Contract law 'boost for social security'

Workers have enjoyed better social welfare since the introduction of the Labor Contract Law on Jan 1, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin said on Friday.

As of June, the percentage of employees by region that had signed labor contracts was between 90 and 96 percent, up 3 to 8 percentage points from the end of last year, Yin said, quoting figures from 26 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

Meanwhile, the combined value of the five social security funds - pensions, unemployment, medical, work injury and maternity insurance - was 610.5 billion yuan ($89.3 billion) from January to June, up 31 percent on last year, ministry figures show.