28.11.2021

Social Security in Times of COVID-19

Society and Politics, Event
 

On November 27th and 28th, 2021, FES Shanghai Representative Office in cooperation with the Centre of European Studies at the Fudan University Shanghai and the Chinese Association of Social Security held a conference about social security in times of the pandemic.

The global spread of the coronavirus has posed a tremendous turning point for societies. Countless people saw their lives changing radically, forced by economic shut downs or health issues. In many countries, the social security systems, especially the health systems, were only partially able to provide the necessary support services.

During the conference, experts from China and Germany pointed out that both countries were able to mitigate the effects of the pandemic with massive and quick interventions, such as the extension of short-time work benefits, deferral of social security contributions etc. Nevertheless, the relief measures have not helped all groups in society equally. Particularly low-skilled employees, young workers, women and the self-employed have been suffering more than other cohorts on the labor mark

In addition to the impact of unforeseeable crises, the conference also addressed phenomena with a long-lasting impact on social security systems such as the gig economy and the demographic change. A solution-oriented approach discussed how the income of the contribution-financed social security systems can be increased and stabilized and what effects are to be expected when complementing them with high-quality and quantitative public services. Other more far-reaching courses of action ranged to unconditional access to basic income and services.

Regarding social insurance, there were two pillars that attracted the core of the debate. Both pension and health insurance will face long-term pressure due to inevitable social and economic factors. Additional unexpected shocks like a pandemic can lead to further instability. Therefore, experts were in agreement that reforming and supporting these pillars is a key task for policy makers.

Venue ,,Social Security"
René Bormann, Chief Representative of FES Shanghai Representative Office
Ding Chun, Head of the Centre for European Studies, Fudan University Shanghai
Zheng Chunrong, Deputy Dean and Professor of the Institute of Public Policy and Governance, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
Jin Weigang, President of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security Sciences
Zhu Yufang, Lecturer at the Institute for German Studies, Tongji-University
Chinese and German experts online debating about the social security systems.
Chinese Experts Qian Yunchun, Jin Weigang, Shen Ke and Zheng Chunrong (from right to left)
Toralf Pusch, Head of the Department of Labor Market Analysis at the Institute for Economic and Social Sciences (WSI) in the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung
Lin Ka, Professor at the School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University

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