25 October 2018
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has recently drawn up and issued the "Interim Measures for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents to Join the Social Insurance Scheme in the Mainland" (Draft for Comment) to seek public comments by 25 November 2018. The coverage of each insurance available to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and conditions and measures for enjoying insurance benefits, are identical to those for Mainland residents.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security ("MOHRSS") has recently drawn up and issued the Interim Measures for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents to Join the Social Insurance Scheme in the Mainland (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") to seek public comments by 25 November 2018.
The Draft for Comment provides the scope of individuals qualified to join the scheme, what types of social insurance they may take out and the corresponding benefits, procedures to take out the insurance, financial subsidies, double participation, and policy consistency, among other matters.
The Draft for Comment provides that the application procedures for social insurance for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents are identical to those as Mainland residents. It also specifies the standards for financial subsidy entitled for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents and university students residing in urban and rural areas. Moreover, in order to protect the rights of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, they can opt out of the Mainland social insurance scheme with valid proof of an authorised insurance institution. In order to ensure administrative cohesiveness, the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan authorities shall refer to the rules stipulated in the Draft for Comment.
The Draft for Comment also laid out specific requirements for issuing social insurance identification numbers to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents.