Social Welfare System

South Reviews
January 16

According to a meeting of the State Council, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao on January 9, retiree pensions were increased for the ninth consecutive year to 1,900 yuan ($301.6) per person a month. However, aimed at improving social welfare, the move has triggered calls for ending the twin-track pension scheme.

Under the system, effective from the early 1990s, government and institution employee contributions are paid from the fiscal budget, while enterprise workers are responsible for their own fees.

An article by Wen published in April 2012 in Qiushi, a Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) publication, called for a unified social security system. A subsequent report to the 18th CPC National Congress additionally stressed the need for improved social welfare.

A system that treats everybody equally is essential. All people, no matter their occupation, should be incorporated into one social welfare scheme. A system that favors only certain privileged groups is at risk of failure.

Whether improved social welfare can be realized will be a test to see just how far China's deepened reform is willing to stretch.

Urbanization Barriers

Caixin
January 7

The speed of China's urbanization is picking up. The national development and reform conference held on December 28, 2012, vowed to improve the quality and level of urbanization and ensure basic public services to all permanent residents.

In 2011, China's urbanization rate reached 51.27 percent, which meant that for the first time urban residents outnumbered rural dwellers in the country. However, at the same time, people realized that urbanization meant not only large-scale expansion of city territories and the erection of industrial parks, but also the massive migration of rural inhabitants.

The rural population is mainly drawn to cities in search of more opportunity, higher income, and richer educational, medical and cultural resources. The annual net income per capita in rural areas in 2011 was 6,977 yuan ($1,121), while the per-capita disposable income for urban residents reached 21,810 yuan ($3,504) that year.

In 2011, the number of migrant workers hit 253 million. Whether they can be well settled in cities will determine if urbanization stays on right track.

Fireworks Pollution

The Beijing News
January 29

Recent incidents of smog have caused serious air pollution in Beijing. If such conditions persist during the coming Spring Festival, should fireworks be banned? Environmental experts suggest that if the problem continues, the government should reduce and even prohibit setting off fireworks.

On the eve of the pervious Spring Festival, the entire city was blanketed by the smell of fireworks set off by celebrating citizens. PM2.5 data from the air-quality monitor in downtown Chegongzhuang revealed the presence of 1,593 micrograms per cubic meter of air, far exceeding the maximum pollution level of 500.

To curb widespread use of fireworks, the government could alert citizens via text message, microblog, radio or TV. When air pollution reaches high levels, fireworks should be banned in downtown areas and sales outlets closed.

In 2005, the government lifted the ban on fireworks, with respect for traditional Chinese culture and people's rights. However, eight years since the ban was lifted, it has become increasingly clear that fireworks disturb citizens and cause air pollution, contradicting the city's efforts to reduce PM2.5.

The city's current firework policies need to be revised according to new circumstances. In a word, the government and law making organs should actively work together to restrain firework use in line with the air pollution issue.

Multiple Identities

Beijing Youth Daily
January 28

Gong Aiai, former deputy chief of Shenmu County Rural Commercial Bank in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, recently grabbed nationwide attention for holding four hukou, or permanent resident permits. Accordingly, Gong allegedly bought 12 properties measuring thousands of square meters and invested tens of millions of yuan in different enterprises.

The media and netizens exposed Gong's misdeeds, forcing disciplinary inspection and public security departments to conduct an investigation into her case.

Although the Supreme People's Procuratorate has intervened and public security departments in Beijing, Shanxi and Shaanxi have carried out investigations into police officers who helped Gong to obtain her hukou, relevant government organs have given no clue as to the culprit's current situation or punishment. Even Gong's whereabouts are unclear.

The lack of information had brought the government's determination to deal with the matter into question. Some netizens worry that Gong will escape abroad before her trail reaches court.

Public concern over Gong's case has spread fears that other top ranking officials might be up to the same tricks. To ease such concerns, information must be made more available.