Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau residents no longer require Chinese work permits

China's State Council has announced that residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (THKM) will no longer require work permits for jobs in mainland China.

This means that for employment purposes, residents of these three regions will be treated the same as local mainland Chinese residents, according to Dezan Shira’s China Briefing.

Residents from THKM regions were previously required to obtain a work permit before being able to work on the mainland and had to submit up to 10 items of paperwork to do so. They also had to apply for a new permit when switching employers.

Now though, they can use their business licence, employment contract, wage payment documents or social security payment records as evidence of their employment. They will also be eligible to register for unemployment benefits.

But people from THKM regions will continue to be treated differently to mainland Chinese residents in certain areas such as entitlement to social insurance benefits like healthcare and pensions. For example, they will still have to pay in full for medical services in public hospitals and seek reimbursement if cover is provided by their employers.

Separately, the State Council announced it would take further measures to strengthen its supervision of employment services, social security, unemployment registration and labour rights protection.

Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.

OTHER ARTICLES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Z and M visa issues: Seven things to be aware of when employing foreign staff in China

Understanding marriage leave in China

Hiring disabled workers in China: Incentives and challenges

China's State Council has announced that residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (THKM) will no longer require work permits for jobs in mainland China.

This means that for employment purposes, residents of these three regions will be treated the same as local mainland Chinese residents, according to Dezan Shira’s China Briefing.

Residents from THKM regions were previously required to obtain a work permit before being able to work on the mainland and had to submit up to 10 items of paperwork to do so. They also had to apply for a new permit when switching employers.

Now though, they can use their business licence, employment contract, wage payment documents or social security payment records as evidence of their employment. They will also be eligible to register for unemployment benefits.

But people from THKM regions will continue to be treated differently to mainland Chinese residents in certain areas such as entitlement to social insurance benefits like healthcare and pensions. For example, they will still have to pay in full for medical services in public hospitals and seek reimbursement if cover is provided by their employers.

Separately, the State Council announced it would take further measures to strengthen its supervision of employment services, social security, unemployment registration and labour rights protection.

Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.

OTHER ARTICLES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Z and M visa issues: Seven things to be aware of when employing foreign staff in China

Understanding marriage leave in China

Hiring disabled workers in China: Incentives and challenges