Chinese farmers need protection<\/p>\n
Dong Yuexian, Researcher, State Information Center,
\nDepartment of Economic Forecast, China Daily, Asia News Network, Beijing<\/p>\n
A social security system is urgently needed in rural China so
\nthat farmers can take care of their basic needs in life.<\/p>\n
In mid August the Ministry of Labour and Social Security
\nannounced it will try to streamline the national social security
\nsystem by implementing several new measures.<\/p>\n
By helping unemployed and laid-off workers qualify for
\nendowments, unemployment and health care insurances, the ministry
\nis determined to provide relief for some of the country's needy.<\/p>\n
These measures, however, are only aimed at urban residents.<\/p>\n
While there is no doubt the current administration has made
\nimpressive strides in improving the social security system in
\ncities and towns, providing the same coverage to rural residents
\nremains a daunting task.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, an urban dweller automatically
\nqualifies for pension and health care insurance once he or she
\nfinds employment.<\/p>\n
By contrast, most members of the rural population can only
\nrely on their land for income because the State only extends aid
\nto some ultra poor in rural areas.<\/p>\n
As a result, the rural residents who account for nearly 70
\npercent of the nation's total population only absorb about 11
\npercent of the total social security expenditure while the other
\n89 percent is spent on urban residents.<\/p>\n
This disparity has contributed to the growing gap between the
\nliving standards of rural and urban populations.<\/p>\n
Another factor contributing to the urgency of establishing a
\nsocial security system in rural China is the aging population. In
\n2001, 7.1 percent of China's residents were 65 years of age or
\nolder.<\/p>\n
With 70 percent of the elderly living in rural areas, the need
\nto provide adequate social security becomes even more acute while
\nthe family planning policy, which has been in effect about two
\ndecades, helped create more nuclear families in the rural areas.
\nAs a result, the average rural adult has to take care of more
\naging relatives.<\/p>\n
The blueprint for China's rural social security system should
\naddress three basic needs: Cost for maintaining minimum standard
\nof living; health care fees; and old age pension.<\/p>\n
The average income of farmers has been slowly increasing for
\nyears, but many rural families are still suffering from poverty.
\nSetting up a system guaranteeing the minimum living standard for
\nrural residents would help ease their worries and stabilize
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
Establishing such a system will require a series of measures.
\nAbove all, a law should be drafted to address relative issues
\nabout such a system.<\/p>\n
Then policies should be worked out to grant favorable
\ntreatment to poor farmers, such as tax cuts and free education.<\/p>\n
Another primary concern for rural residents is health care.<\/p>\n
The new security system should try to ensure that the rural
\npeople, the majority of the nation's population, can get basic
\nmedical services.<\/p>\n
Healthcare insurance fees for farmers should be divided among
\nthe farmers and the collective economic entities like villages
\nand local governments, but the specific standard, financing
\nmethod and management should be adapted to the real situation of
\ndifferent parts of the nation.<\/p>\n
That same principle should apply to rural old age pension
\ninsurance.<\/p>\n
For rural residents in coastal areas who are better off on
\naverage, the sum of old age pension insurance should not be the
\nsame as their counterparts in poverty-stricken regions. And fees
\nfor old age pension should be solely paid by the farmers
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Knowledge about old age pension should also be popularized
\namong farmers to help them better accept the practice.<\/p>",
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