Social Welfare Reforms

Abstract

Social welfare in China is intricately interwoven with political and economic activities. A term ‘she hui bao zhang’ corresponding to ‘social security’ is often used to refer to measures of social protection and social provision. It consists of three main programmes:

• 1. Social insurance: occupational and state social security programmes usually provided by the work units covering the loss of income in contingencies.

• 2. Social welfare: social services provided by work units, the neighbourhoods, and the government.

• 3. Social relief: assistance provided by the government and the collectives to ex-servicemen, poverty-stricken households, and victims of natural disasters.