The General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have jointly issued a significant policy document titled “Guidelines on Further Ensuring and Improving People’s Livelihoods to Address Urgent Public Needs.” Released on March 2, 2025, these guidelines outline a comprehensive approach to make social services more equitable, balanced, inclusive, and accessible.
Key Measures to Enhance Social Security Fairness
The policy removes household registration restrictions for social insurance participation in workplaces, allowing broader coverage for migrant workers and flexible employment personnel. It introduces innovative measures including direct maternity insurance subsidy payments to eligible recipients and reasonable adjustments to minimum wage standards.
For low-income groups, the guidelines establish dynamic monitoring systems and improved identification methods for financially vulnerable families. The policy also enhances rural support mechanisms and promotes local employment opportunities through public works programs.
Improving Basic Public Service Accessibility
The guidelines mandate service provision based on residency rather than household registration, benefiting approximately 300 million domestic migrants. Key housing measures include expanded access to public housing and住房公积金制度 for flexible workers.
Educational reforms feature prominently, with plans to establish over 1,000 new high-quality senior high schools within five years and achieve standardized construction across all compulsory education institutions. Higher education expansion will prioritize central and western regions.
Healthcare and Special Population Support
Medical resource allocation will focus on three key strategies: transferring urban resources to county-level hospitals, deploying top-tier hospital personnel to grassroots institutions, and sending high-level medical professionals to county facilities. The policy also introduces dual pharmaceutical directories for basic medical insurance and commercial health insurance.
For aging and childcare services, the guidelines set ambitious targets: 80% of new elderly care beds must meet nursing standards, and major cities should achieve 80% community coverage of inclusive childcare within a decade. The policy supports various childcare models including community-based and workplace facilities.
Community-Centric Service Innovations
The guidelines promote integrated community service centers offering one-stop solutions for elderly care, childcare, and domestic services. Public spaces will undergo age-friendly and accessibility modifications, while cultural and sports facilities will expand evening operations.
Special provisions address diverse population needs, including youth housing support, HPV vaccination programs for adolescent girls, and improved disability assistance mechanisms. The policy emphasizes inter-departmental coordination and performance evaluation to ensure effective implementation.
Implementation and Oversight
Local governments must align with central directives while considering regional capacities. Financial arrangements will prioritize essential services including education, healthcare, and social security. The guidelines prohibit rigid implementation approaches, advocating instead for adaptable, context-sensitive solutions.
This landmark policy represents China’s most comprehensive effort to date in addressing fundamental quality-of-life concerns, with measurable targets set across multiple social service sectors.
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