China is in talks with other governments over a new law requiring working foreigners to pay social security taxes, according to a deputy minister

Deputy labour minister Hu Xiaoyi said progress on implementing the tax was going smoothly despite uncertainty about what benefits foreign workers might receive and a backlash from firms nervous about increasing costs.

“Our ministry and different parts of the country are proactively and reliably pushing forward with the detailed work for this project,” Mr Hu said. At least a dozen countries had held talks about signing bilateral social security agreements, he added.

It would mean employees who pay contributions in their home countries do not have to do so again in China. – (Reuters)