New policies take effect on Jan 1

Insurance open to HK, Macao, Taiwan residents

Residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will be able to apply for Chinese mainland social insurance starting Jan 1 this year, according to provisional regulations issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Dec 3.

The regulations will apply to people who work, study or live in the Chinese mainland.

Residents lawfully recruited and employed by Chinese mainland enterprises should take part in five basic insurance programs－endowment, medical, work-related injury, unemployment insurance and maternity.

Those who live in the Chinese mainland but are not employed can join endowment and medical insurance programs according to the regulations of the cities they live in. The regulations also cover people who are self-employed or flexible employees.

The procedure to join social insurance programs and the benefits are the same as those for mainland residents.

Those already in social insurance programs in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can provide documentation to be exempted from the Chinese mainland programs.