Rural pension study tour visits Italy and Hungary

Given the recent decision by the State Council to introduce a scheme of new rural pensions, Component 2 has organised a study tour to Italy and Hungary to examine pension issues, which is planned to take place on 1 – 10 December 2009. The tour, which includes representatives of MoHRSS and Jilin and Shandong provincial social security agencies, will meet with the central pensions agencies in Italy and Hungary and with academic experts to learn about the structure of pensions in these European countries and how pensions policy issues are addressed. Amongst the pension issues shared by Europe and China is that of an ageing population.

The tour will focus in particular on rural pensions issues. Both Italy and Hungary have historically had significant agricultural sectors and both have specific arrangements for rural workers. The delegation will visit rural pensions offices in both countries to examine how pensions are administered.

(Provided by Dr. Mel Cousins, EU key expert in Old-age Insurance. mel.cousins@eucss.org.cn)