Reduce the social security rate and reduce the burden on enterprises.

At present, the whole social security (including social insurance) expenditure only accounts for 12% of China's fiscal expenditure, which is far lower than the proportion of 30% to 50% in developed countries. In other words, China's financial investment in social security is not only far lower than that of developed countries, but also far from reaching the goal of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan.

In view of recent media reports that China's social insurance rate is the highest in the world, the payment based on the average social wage has increased year after year, which has become a burden for enterprises and individuals. In an interview with People's Daily Online, the relevant person in charge of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said that in the future, with the further improvement of the social security system, according to the reform direction determined by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the social security premium rate will be appropriately reduced in a timely manner to effectively balance the burden of the state, units and individuals.

In this regard, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security advocated that the government should take on more responsibilities, promised that the social security premium rate would be appropriately lowered in a timely manner, and made clear three paths to adjust the social security payment policy, so that people could see the hope of change.

However, whether the social security rate will be lowered in time and what is "timely" still lacks a clear answer. In fact, the best time to lower the social security rate is now. As soon as the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made clear the direction of reform, we should implement the reform as soon as possible. On the other hand, the current macroeconomic growth rate continues to slow down, and many small and medium-sized enterprises are under great pressure and heavy burden. Public opinion calling for reducing the burden of social security is growing louder and louder. Relevant departments should show their sincerity in reform and give the public a clear commitment, so as to actively respond to public opinion.

Of course, it is not up to Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security to reduce the social security rate. In fact, the key to reducing the social security burden is to increase the government's financial burden. In other words, the state has assumed greater responsibility for social security payment, so the burden on enterprises will naturally fall. For a long time, it is precisely because of the lack of government financial support that it is difficult to make substantial progress in reducing the social security burden.

Internationally, the government's financial responsibility for social security is usually measured by "the proportion of social security expenditure to financial expenditure". China's social security "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" requires governments at all levels to increase the proportion of social security expenditure to about 25%. However, statistics show that at present, the whole social security (including social insurance) expenditure only accounts for 12% of China's fiscal expenditure, which is far lower than the proportion of 30% to 50% in developed countries. In other words, China's financial investment in social security is not only far lower than that of developed countries, but also far from reaching the goal of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan.

Therefore, it is necessary to advocate the government to assume more responsibilities, and also to clarify the subsidy responsibilities of governments at all levels and state-owned enterprises for social security. For example, how much is the central financial subsidy and how much is the local financial subsidy? The system should be used to fix the subsidy ratio, so that the social security fund can have a stable and sustainable income. However, because the Social Insurance Law simply stipulates that "when the social insurance fund is insufficient to pay, the people's government at or above the county level will give subsidies", the subsidies of many local governments are arbitrary, which will inevitably transfer some of the security responsibilities and burdens to enterprises and employees.

The adjustment of social security policy is not only a good medicine to solve economic difficulties and ensure sustainable development, but also a means to enhance national welfare and promote social equity. Although the country has to bear a huge cost for reducing the social security rate, at the same time, compared with the improvement of economic investment ability and productivity and the improvement of social equity after the social security rate is reduced, the money is very cost-effective. 20 15 is the last year of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan. Can the promise of "social security expenditure accounts for 25% of fiscal expenditure" be realized this year? We will wait and see.

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