Chinese enterprises, private and collective ones in particular, need to expand their participation in social security programs for the benefit of their employees, said a report issued Saturday.

The report was issued by the Development Research Center of theState Council. The center surveyed 1,883 enterprises across the country in the past year. The survey found that in participating in various insurance and social security programs, 92.5 percent ofthe firms had joined in basic endowment insurance, 78.9 percent inbasic medical insurance, 75.5 percent in unemployment insurance, 65.8 percent in industrial injury insurance, 36.5 percent in childsafety insurance, and 49.5 percent had taken part in a housing subsidy fund.

The report noted that fewer private and collective enterprises have bought such insurances for their employees. Private enterprises buying unemployment insurance, industrial injury insurance and child safety insurance accounted for 62.4 percent, 59.4 percent and 27.3 percent respectively.

The figures for the collective enterprises were even lower -- at 50 percent, 53.6 percent and 21.4 percent.

The insurance coverage rate in the western region was also lower than that in the eastern area, said the report.

Source: Xinhua