The social security authority on Thursday urged wider coverage of work-related injury insurance to better protect the rights of workers who face a high risk of injury.
Â
"We will strengthen efforts to push enterprises in high-risk industries, such as mining and construction, to provide work-injury insurance for workers. Those industries are our key targets in this field," Yin Chengji, spokesman for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, told a news conference.
Â
"We have been stressing employers' responsibilities in this matter," he said.
Â
Yin did not elaborate on any concrete measure the ministry will take to extend insurance coverage.
Â
Current laws require companies to provide work injury insurance for employees and ensure the country's work injury insurance fund covers treatment fees and compensation to injured workers — as long as the employee's company pays for the insurance.
Â
If the employer did not pay for the insurance, it should be responsible for all fees.
Â
Zhao Wei, a labor expert at Beijing Normal University, said farmers who became migrant workers are major victims of work-related injuries.
Â
A survey last year conducted by Zhao found that only 33 percent of construction workers in Beijing have signed labor contracts with employers.
Â
"Almost all workers are covered by work-injury insurance as long as they have signed employment contracts with bosses," she said. "But we found that a majority of construction workers have no insurance coverage."
Â
Zhao said although most employers who do not provide work-injury insurance would pay for injured workers' first aid, they do not provide compensation.Â