What Are Required Employee Benefits?

Staff welfare standards. In July 2014, the National Federation of Trade Unions issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Management of Funds Revenue and Expenditure of Basic-level Trade Unions." It is stipulated that the grassroots trade unions can distribute a small amount of holiday condolences to all employees on New Year's Day. Regarding the "small amount" standard, it is specified in the supplementary notice that it will be determined by the provincial unions according to the actual local conditions. Since then, provinces across the country have successively formulated local rules based on the notice.

Staff welfare standards

Eight regulations

The central government has issued eight regulations to implement hard work and thrift, aiming at combating corruption and extravagance. However, in some places, the implementation is "one size fits all", and the normal benefits of employees are abolished along with gray income. The physical examination of the female workers on Women's Day was gone, and the two-pound paperback moon cakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival were gone. Even rice, noodles, and oil that had been issued for more than 50 years before the Spring Festival were gone.

Welfare and corruption are two completely different things. Children cannot be thrown away with bath water. Appropriate benefits are the rights and obligations of employees. They are not only the object of anti-corruption and anti-waste, but are one of the ultimate goals of anti-corruption and promoting integrity.

extensive attention

The topic of normal employee welfare standards has aroused widespread concern in society. Huashang Daily and Huashang.com surveyed 1,628 netizens, of which 54% said they would not post. 52% of netizens said they would be very disappointed if the unit did not issue benefits. Some members of the CPPCC pointed out that "the rice noodle oil that has been issued for 50 years" is cancelled. Although this saves money, it is easy to hurt the feelings of employees. "

The key to ensuring the normal welfare of employees lies in setting standards and standardizing operations.

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions issued a supplementary notice to the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Funds Revenue and Expenditure at the Basic Level of Trade Unions, which clarified the specific operation of trade union organizations at all levels across the country to use union funds to provide benefits to employees.

On this basis, Zhejiang, Henan and other places have successively introduced local version standards, which are refined to the level of "festival benefits not exceeding 1,000 yuan per person per year" and "birthday condolences not exceeding 300 yuan per person". It is expected that all localities can proceed from local reality, introduce welfare standards, standardize the distribution of benefits, and let employees share the reform and development dividends with integrity. ^[2]

@Traveler: No wonder the masters said that it is difficult to save private house money.

@ ht: Tears if you talk too much!

@ - : Canceled 50 years of rice flour benefits, hurting employees' feelings.

@ _Y--J ___: Anti-corruption has been brought to the employees. The employees have worked hard for a year and look forward to paying more.

@ 3210112022: It turns out that there are so many rewards in addition to salary and welfare insurance? People are better than people!

@ 1221: Anti-corruption is a crackdown on corruption of state property, but employee benefits must be dripped every holiday. This is an affirmation of employees' work, even if they send bags of flour or apples.

@ 2004: Uh, Yuan Fang, what do you think?

@ : In-kind benefits other than cash may be suboptimal, and in addition, rebates may occur. "How to supervise in this regard" should be given priority. ^[9]

People's Network

In the second half of 2014, the National Federation of Trade Unions successively issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Management of Funds Revenue and Expenditure of Basic-level Trade Unions" and its "Supplemental Notice". The notice stipulates that the funds of the primary trade unions are mainly used for employee education, cultural and sports activities, publicity activities, rights protection and collective welfare of employees. As the notice concerns the sensitive area of "employees' welfare", it has caused widespread reports in various media. It should be said that the National Federation of Trade Unions issued this document when it was "gunning" while "employees' welfare" was lying. It was intended to strengthen the management of union funds, responding to the concerns of employees, and urgently needed to "publicize" through the media to expand the influence of public opinion. . Therefore, the extensive media reports are undoubtedly a great thing to remind the society to pay attention to the lives of ordinary employees and promote the normal return of employee benefits.

However, if you look at the media reports, most titles have problems with generalization and confusion. For example, the People s Daily Relevant persons in charge of the General Administration of China interpreting the normal benefits of employees, the Zhejiang Daily s Zhejiang Promulgation of Employees Welfare Standards , the Dahe Daily s Henan Edition of Employees Welfare Standards and the Qilu Evening News Shandong is in the process of formulating employee benefits distribution rules, Normal benefits will be defined "and so on. Most media equate the regulations on the management of the income and expenditure of union funds with "employees' welfare standards", which must be said to be a serious misunderstanding and misunderstanding of employee welfare.

Welfare is an important part of the employee compensation system. It is the remuneration provided to employees by enterprises or other organizations in the form of benefits, and it is an indirect return of employee labor. Article 76 of the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that employers should create conditions to improve collective welfare and the welfare of workers. Regulations on the management of income and expenditure of union funds, although it is clear that union funds can be used for the payment of benefits for members, but that is only the benefits given to members by the union, not all benefits for employees, and it cannot replace the responsibility of employers.

Except for the provisions of national laws, enterprise employee benefits are generally provided voluntarily by the employer, which is agreed upon in the labor contract or collective contract after consultation between the employer and the employee. Once agreed and written into the contract, it becomes a legal obligation of the employer.

Is there any general standard for employee benefits? In theory, as long as a private enterprise pays taxes in accordance with the law, it is still legal to distribute all profits to employees in the form of benefits. However, Article 40 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that the employee welfare expenses incurred by an enterprise shall not exceed the 14% of the total wages and salaries, and the pre-tax deduction is allowed. The excess will be paid by the employer for income tax. Therefore, in order to reduce the tax burden, most enterprises will control employee welfare expenditures within 14% of total wages. But the situation is different for government agencies and state-owned and state-controlled enterprises. Excessive welfare expenditures of government agencies and institutions will inevitably squeeze other expenses or increase financial burden. The profits of state-owned and state-controlled enterprises are owned by the entire people. The uncontrolled distribution of employee benefits is bound to erode or reduce the profits of enterprises that should belong to the entire people. Therefore, the establishment of employee benefits caps should mainly target these two units. But this is the responsibility of the competent authority, not the authority of the union.

Employee benefits are a secondary distribution process, especially when the wages of employees are generally not high. Reasonable benefits can provide employees with convenience and reduce their living burden. At present, there is a shortage of labor in some regions and industries. In addition to the hard conditions such as professional development and salary, employees also pay attention to the soft conditions such as the culture and welfare of the unit. Better welfare is an important guarantee for enterprises to attract talents and unite people's hearts. It is very important for units, enterprises and employees. In addition to providing members with benefits within their ability, the union must strive for greater and better benefits for employees on the basis of reasonable, reasonable and legal premise through a collective negotiation mechanism. Officials at all levels and business leaders should have the spirit of responsibility. Don't misread employee benefits, let alone be pretending to be confused, and treat the rules of the union as the standard for all employees' benefits. The suspension or reduction of promised employee benefits has cooled employees' hearts. ^[10]

In January 2015, the National Federation of Trade Unions issued a document stating that the grassroots trade unions can give a small amount of condolences to all members on New Year's Day.

How should union funds be spent? Where can I spend it?

The "Notice" clearly states that all funds for trade unions should be used to serve employees and carry out trade union activities.

Funding expenditures of grass-roots trade unions include six aspects: employee education, cultural and sports activities, publicity activities, protection of employees' rights and interests, collective welfare of employees, trade union operations and self-construction.

Is it OK to have a New Year party?

The "Notice" clearly states that union funds can be used for labor union activities such as amateur cultural activities, festival gala, literary and artistic creation, fine arts, calligraphy, photography and other activities; equipment and equipment purchase and maintenance costs required for cultural and sports activities; cultural performances , Sports competitions and rewards; food subsidies and dinners for various activities according to the prescribed expenses. Participate in the cultural and sports activities organized by higher-level trade unions. If it is necessary to purchase clothing, the per capita shall not exceed 500 yuan. Grass-roots unions can also subsidize union officials and members who have missed meals due to their participation in cash or in kind. The standard of distribution is based on the standard of local work meals.

Spring tour, autumn parade?

You can use the union funds to organize members to watch movies and carry out collective activities such as spring and autumn tours.

However, spring and autumn travel should be strictly controlled in the city where the unit is located, and the day trip must be carried out. If you really need to dine out and do not receive the subsidy for meal misuse, you can arrange for work meals.

Can the "Festival Fee" be issued?

The total annual amount per person cannot exceed 1,000 yuan

Collective benefits for employees mainly refer to the small amount of condolences given to all members by the union on New Year's Day, subsidies to individual members and families in case of difficulties, and birthday condolences to members.

Yuan Chao, Minister of the Ministry of Education and Propaganda of Henan Federation of Trade Unions, explained that the Chinese New Year, New Year's Day, and National Day are stipulated by the state.

Regarding the "small amount" standard, our province stipulates that the total cost of all festival condolences for each member throughout the year must not exceed 1,000 yuan, mainly in the form of physical distribution. In addition, grassroots unions can also send consolation items such as birthday cakes or cake coupons to members.

Is this standard high or low?

Yuan Chao said that from a national perspective, this standard is not high or low. It is relatively "following the big slip", "Xiamen is relatively high, and it is 3,000 yuan a year. Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places have earlier policies because of their policies. Low, one is 400 yuan, the other is 600 yuan. Seven holidays a year, 143 yuan per holiday.

In addition to refining "welfare," the "Notice" also mentioned that in the future, supervision over the management of the expenditures of the grass-roots trade unions will be strengthened, and investigations and punishments for violations of laws and regulations on expenditures will be strengthened. Trade unions at all levels are required to strictly implement the eight regulations of the central government and 20 opinions of our province, and it is strictly forbidden to distribute money and goods in the name of employee benefits. ^[12]