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China Deepens Work-Injury Insurance Reform
China is reforming its insurance system to better protect laborers from on-the-job injuries, according to report of China Daily Business Weekly.
An insurance-backed system designed to prevent such injuries and to care for laborers injured on the job was one of the world's earliest and most popular social security programs, said Wu Ritu, director of the medical insurance department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, at a seminar organized by the leading US work-safety insurer, Liberty International.
Based on contributions from enterprises, China established its first workplace injury insurance program in 1995 and has been improving it since then.
Wu said managers will concentrate on adjusting premium rates and the amount of coverage provided by the insurance to expand its use.
US-based Liberty Mutual Insurance Managing Director of China Development John Kimber said, "Our emphasis is on the prevention of occupational diseases and injuries. In the long term, this is much more cost-effective than providing treatment and rehabilitation because of injuries or illnesses stemming from workplace conditions."
He said significant investments that have led to improvements in occupational and environmental health could result in a reduction in accident rates, thus alleviating huge economic and social burdens.
Although China has established a legal framework for occupational health and safety, the rapidly developing economy that creates new job categories each year has made the drafting of a comprehensive occupational safety law an urgent task, said Shan Chunchang, director of the State Economic and Trade Commission's work-safety bureau.
The commission submitted a draft of a comprehensive "occupational safety law" to the State Council at the end of last year and is pressing for its passage as soon as possible, according to Shan.
It has also stepped up the revision and improvement of existing rules and regulations concerning occupational safety, Shan said.
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