Pass social security law at the earliest
Different views and other issues obstructing the path of a social security law remind us exactly why we need to accelerate the legislation, says an article in Yangtze Evening Post. Excerpt:
Some reports suggest the third review of the draft of the Social Security Law could be deferred because of "obscure economic conditions".
Another reason cited for the draft not being reviewed this month is the "different views" people have toward some of the content such as the pension scheme for government workers.
The draft, once approved, would become a basic law because it is in the interest of all the people. The delay would have been understandable if it was to improve the draft's content.
But that's not the feeling one gets from the two reasons given in the reports. On the contrary, a social security law is needed precisely because such excuses can still delay a legislative process.
First, let's see what "obscure economic conditions" mean. We all know a not-so healthy economy hurts ordinary people rather than enterprises first because the latter have a larger capacity to cushion their losses.
It's during such times that people need the shelter of a social security network. As a professor said, bad and good economies both offer the chance to stipulate and perfect the social security system.
In the long run, strengthening social security will not add pressure to the enterprises because a strong social security net will give people more purchasing power.
Denying social benefits to the people in order to reduce the pressure on enterprises in the short run will actually put the latter at greater risk.
The reason for the "different views" is mainly because government workers are concerned only about their pension scheme and not because of the draft's content per se.
Government workers don't want to be included in the national social security system and hope to remain part of a separate system paid fully by the government.
Their intention is to protect their interests, not to improve the draft.
If we keep delaying the process because of "different views", social contradictions will deepen and unequal social conditions will only get worse.
It is precisely the absence of a social security law that has given government workers the chance to seek a separate and more secure pension scheme.
(China Daily 08/12/2009 page9)
