Key facts
- Premier Li Qiang said China should improve social insurance coverage for workers in non-traditional, flexible employment.
- Li called for faster work to close gaps in the social security system, state media reported.
- Li said broader access to employer-sponsored retirement plans and more appealing voluntary personal pension schemes were needed.
- Li said demographic change, technology and new forms of employment have created new demands on social security.
China's Premier Li Qiang called for improvements to the country's social security system to make it fair and sustainable while broadening its coverage, state media reported on November 12, 2026, citing a study session of the country's cabinet.
Li said changes in demographics, technology and new forms of employment have created new demands on social security, and stressed the need to "fully recognize the important role social security plays in overall development."
He said China should improve coverage for workers in non-traditional, flexible employment and gradually improve their social insurance coverage. He also called for faster work to close gaps in the system, broader access to employer-sponsored retirement plans and voluntary personal pension schemes made more appealing to the public.
The report named no specific measure, deadline or figure behind the remarks. Reuters attributed the account to state media coverage of the cabinet study session.