Hewitt Associates, a US-based outsourcing and consulting firm, has
been selected by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to assist in a
social security reform pilot programme in Northeast China's
Liaoning Province.
Hewitt will undertake component A of the ADB-sponsored pilot
programme Policy and Institutional Support for the Social Security
Reform Programme.
The programme's aims include examining key policy issues, and
strengthening the institutional capability of the Liaoning Social
Security Department in performing administrative and regulatory
functions in order to effectively implement the tax department's
recommendations. The programme also aims to assist central
government agencies in evaluating the pilot programme, and to
replicate the experience nationwide if the pilot proves
successful.
The programme is also aimed at supporting the establishment of an
actuarial unit in the social security department, equipping it with
an actuarial model, and providing adequate training to enable it to
conduct actuarial and policy analysis and long-term social-security
projections.
The programme will also help design an integrated Management
Implementation Systems platform at provincial level and provide
adequate training to the social security department on all aspects
of the platform's development and management.
Eric Fiedler, head of Hewitt's China operations, said: "The Chinese
Government has assigned high priority to social security reform
since it is a prerequisite for successful restructuring of
State-owned enterprises (SOEs).
"During the central-planning era, SOEs were responsible for
providing social-security benefits, including pensions and health
insurance for their employees."
The ageing population and the relatively poor financial performance
of State-owned enterprises have placed the social security system
under severe financial and management stress.
(China Daily July 17, 2002)
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