Highlight: The new Measures concerning foreigners’ participation in the local social insurance in China has come into effect recently. In this essay, we would like to introduce you the detailed regulations of the new document.

As provided in the Article 97 of the Social Insurance Law, P.R.C, which has come into effect from 2011.7.1, all foreign workers with a valid work permit could be covered by the social security program. However, according to the reply from the hotline of the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, the participation in the program is on worker’s own choice as agreed in their labor contracts instead of being mandatory.