The city has extended its policy to charge a lower rate of the medical insurance payment from enterprises to relieve the burden of employers.

Between May and December, the enterprises, including self-employed business owners, social organizations and private non-enterprise units in the Grade I category of medical insurance, will pay for their employees’ insurances at a rate of 5 percent, instead of 6 percent, according to a notice jointly issued by the Shenzhen Municipal Health-care Security Bureau and the Shenzhen Municipal Finance Bureau.

The policy will not be applied to the employee-paid portions or the employers that pay for the insurance at the Grade II standard.

In 2020, the municipal health-care security bureau reduced, exempted or delayed collection of medical insurance fees amounting to 9 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) from 800,000 different enterprises, who all benefited greatly from the program that aimed to stimulate work and production resumption.