Social security to cover foreign workers

BEIJING - China is pressing ahead with the effort to include all foreign workers into the country's social security system, Yin Chengji, spokesman of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said on Friday.

In Beijing, at least 7,800 expats have joined the social security system since July as required by a new law, he said.

The move aims to ensure foreign employees in China enjoy the same social insurance benefits as Chinese nationals do, he said.

But as some expats are already paying social security premiums in their own countries, he said those from countries that have signed social insurance agreements with China, such as South Korea and Germany, can present proof to avoid paying premiums in China, he said.

"Some countries have asked to sign such agreements with China sooner, and we are negotiating with them," he said, without naming them.