China is further reducing the social insurance burdens on employers according to a national notice and it is implementing rules issued in April 2019. On 1 April 2019, the State Council issued the notice on Comprehensive Plans for Reducing Social Insurance Contributions. On 28 April 2019, implementing rules in support of the notice were jointly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, and the National Healthcare Security Administration.
The notice and its implementing rules will:
- Reduce pension contributions by employers: Starting from 1 May 2019, China has reduced the maximum employer contribution rate for pension insurance from 20% to 16%. This reduction was first introduced by the Ministry of Finance in March and is being restated in the notice and its implementing rules.
- Continue with temporary reductions in employer contributions to unemployment insurance and work injury insurance: These temporary reductions will remain in effect until 30 April 2020.
