Group 1: Current Status of Unemployment Insurance System - The unemployment insurance fund in China plays a significant counter-cyclical role, with expenditures increasing by 22.4% year-on-year in Q1 2024[2] - By the end of 2023, the unemployment insurance fund's annual surplus turned positive at 32.2 billion yuan, with a cumulative surplus of 334.2 billion yuan by the end of 2024[2] - Approximately 90% of the unemployment insurance fund's income comes from employer and employee contributions, with the contribution rate capped at 1%[3] Group 2: Challenges Facing the Unemployment Insurance System - The coverage rate of unemployment insurance exceeded 50% in 2023, but key groups like migrant workers have significantly lower coverage rates, with only 19% for new flexible employment positions compared to 55.4% for traditional jobs[4] - The beneficiary rate of unemployment insurance remains low, at only 3% in 2023, with less than 15% of the unemployed population receiving benefits[4] - Local regions face increasing pressure on the balance of unemployment insurance funds, with only 3 regions reporting negative annual balances in 2023, down from 30 regions in 2020[5] Group 3: International Experience and Recommendations - Internationally, mandatory unemployment insurance systems are the mainstream model, with countries like Germany achieving a coverage rate of over 90%[6] - Germany's dual unemployment insurance system combines unemployment benefits and social assistance, providing a robust safety net[6] - Recommendations for China include expanding coverage to new employment forms, improving beneficiary rates, and considering a dual system of basic insurance and unemployment assistance[7]