Maternity insurance covers 36.17 million women

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 19, 2003

Maternity insurance covers 36.17 million women

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About 36.17 million female employees in the country were covered by maternity insurance by October this year, the China Women and Children Rights Protection Group (CWCRPG) announced in Beijing Thursday.

The number increased by 1.29 million over the same period of last year, it was announced at the CWCRPG's third plenary meeting here.

By December, administrations in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and 190 cities had issued local regulations on maternity insurance.

Female employees receive pay and have medical costs paid by their employers during part of their pregnancy and breast-feeding period, under the country's maternity care network founded in the 1950s during the planned economy.

However, since women workers cost employers more, many companies refuse to hire women, causing a major stumbling block towomen's employment.

The maternity insurance system in China has been reformed to establish insurance funds collected through social pools.

The new foundations have developed in 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities so far.

Women workers' maternity expenses, including salary and medicalcosts, are paid by the fund, which means companies only pay insurance premiums.

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