China drafts first law on social insurance

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Chinese media) -- China's top legislature

made public Sunday a draft law on social insurance, the first of its kind in the

country.

It specifies a common right for citizens, urban and

rural alike, to pay premiums and enjoy social insurance for medical care, work

injuries, unemployment and childbirth.

The draft highlights more efficient fund management.

Governments at municipal, provincial and the state-level should encourage and

support the public's participation in supervising insurance funds. Any

individual or organization has a right to complain or report illegalities.

The law also allows Chinese citizens to pay pension

premiums in one place and draw money in another, if they migrate to other cities

or provinces. This stipulation is particularity significant as the country has a

much more mobile population than in the past.

The draft also determined that a new rural medical

system, in which farmers and governments raise funds together, would be included

in the medical insurance plan.

Meanwhile, governments will cover medical insurance

expenses for citizens who live on low-income subsidies, have serious

disabilities or are older than 60 years, the draft said.

The draft law was discussed on Monday by the Standing

Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top

legislature.

Public opinions will be gathered and submitted to the

NPC by Feb. 15, 2009. The draft law will then be reviewed in committee.