Permanent residents to get equal access to public services

China plans to provide equivalent access to basic public services — including education, housing, social security, and medical care — for permanent residents who have not formally registered their household status in the place where they live, according to a guideline released by the State Council on Friday.

The move aims to meet public demand, improve the quality of urbanization, unlock the potential of domestic demand, and foster new development impetus, the document said.

Under the new guidance, children who move with their parents would gain improved access to compulsory education in public schools. Unregistered families will obtain better access to public rental housing programs in cities and flexible workers will be supported to enroll in the housing provident fund system.

The document also calls for removing household registration restrictions on participation in employee social security insurance and enhancing the insurance system for migrant workers, flexible workers, and those engaged in new forms of employment.

In health care, local governments are required to strengthen basic medical coverage for permanent residents and streamline cross-regional direct settlement of medical bills.

Stronger employment services will also be offered, including support for unregistered self-employed individuals in starting businesses.

Other basic public services, such as childcare, elderly care, social assistance and disability support, will gradually be opened to non-registered permanent residents, it added.