Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security ("MOHRSS") has issued the Guiding Opinions on the Mechanism for Adjusting and Ascertaining Work-related Injury Insurance Benefits (the "Opinions").
The Opinions state that benefits provided under the work-related injury insurance should be modified and ascertained at least once every two years in principle by taking into consideration various elements, such as the employees' wage increase, variation of the consumer price index, payment capacities of the work-related injury insurance funds, and adjustments to relevant social security benefits, and also referring to the difference of benefits granted in different places. In addition, the Opinions regulate in particular the adjustments to disability allowances, bereavement benefits for dependents of the deceased employees , life care expenses, and food allowances given to injured employees under in-patient treatment. Further, the Opinions make it clear that allowances for Grade I to Grade IV disability should be modified in an integrated manner based on the monthly disability allowance per person given in a province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) to employees with Grade I to Grade IV disability in the preceding year, by fully taking into account the employees' average wage increase and variation of consumer price index, and laying emphasis on factors affecting the employees' average wage increase, and the payment capacities of the work-related injury insurance funds and adjustments to relevant social security benefits should also be considered.