Can foreign residents pay only provident fund and not social security in Shanghai? Why? Are there any relevant legal provisions?

The current policies of Shanghai housing provident fund are: state organs, state-owned enterprises, urban collective enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, urban private enterprises and other urban enterprises, institutions, private non-enterprise units, social organizations and employees who have established labor relations with the above units (including those who have established labor relations with the above units and workers of labor service companies). The above units must deposit housing provident fund for employees with urban hukou in this city; From July 1 2008, the above-mentioned units must also pay housing provident fund for employees with urban hukou in other provinces and cities; The above-mentioned units can deposit housing provident fund for employees in agricultural registered permanent residence and other provinces and cities.

In other words, if you are registered as an urban resident, it is compulsory. If the unit does not pay, it can complain to the Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center and the district and county management departments. If you are a rural household registration officer, it is not mandatory.

Further reading: How to buy insurance, which is good, and teach you how to avoid these "pits" of insurance.