Sino-British Unemployment Insurance Project (UIP)

The China-UK Unemployment Insurance Project (UIP), which is a co-operative project between the Chinese and British governments, came to an end in January 2006 after more than 3 years of implementation. It was jointly established by the British Department of International Development (DFID) and Chinese Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MOLSS) and administrated by British Council. The Project was aimed at building up social safety nets for the unemployed so as to reduce urban poverty in China.

Launched in February 2003, the China-UK Unemployment Insurance Project improved the unemployment insurance and employment service systems by piloting initiatives and new methods in six cities (Shenyang, Anshan, Benxi, Chengdu, Mianyang, Leshan) in Liaoning and Sichuan. Four components of the Project included Capacity Building (Best Practice); Performance Management Frameworks; Policy Research and IT Investment. UIP effectively achieved its objectives with great success, making valuable contributions to the process of China modernising its social security system as well as strengthening cooperation and communication in the area of unemployment insurance between China and the UK.

The China-UK Unemployment Insurance Project was the first joint co-operation project for China and the UK in this field. The improvements to unemployment insurance and employment service systems introduced to pilot cities are now directly benefiting the unemployed people of Sichuan and Liaoning and improving the skills of the local staff. As part of the MOLSS reform scheme in the area of unemployment insurance, this project will influence and benefit more people in China into the future.