Helping the disadvantaged

As concern for people's livelihoods has once again been declared the top priority of government, efforts to adjust social benefits in line with price hikes are a concrete step in the right direction.

Six central government agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the ministries of finance, civil affairs, human resources and social security, jointly issued a notice on Wednesday, requiring localities to establish a mechanism to increase the minimum living allowances and subsidies to low-income residents if price hikes negatively affect the lives of these disadvantaged residents.

The notice calls for the gradual optimization of this mechanism, which will raise the standards of the minimum living allowances and subsidies to disadvantaged residents in line with the rate of economic growth and the rise in residents' average income.