In December 2025, the last month of the year, public officials in China have reported adjustments in the payment methods for social security and housing fund contributions in several regions. Some areas are requiring retroactive payments for past years’ deficits. In Kanjia Town, Gaomi City, Shandong Province, notices have been issued to various units to request employees to make up for insufficient payments since 2022. Similar practices have been observed in other provinces.
According to sources in Shandong, Anhui, and other provinces, some grassroots units are requiring civil servants to raise funds on their own to make up for the previously insufficient social security contributions. A medical worker in Lu’an, Anhui, mentioned, “The government doesn’t have the money to cover the social security and housing fund deficit, so they are asking us to pay for it ourselves. Many places are now only paying basic wages, and there is no extra money available.” He expressed surprise at the sudden notice requiring them to make up for several years of deficits, with the exact amounts to be determined after checking unit records.
After the issuance of the notices, several grassroots public officials have expressed concerns to reporters about the large amounts and short deadlines for the supplementary payments, with the adjustments being announced hastily. One interviewee familiar with the situation mentioned, “Colleagues are calculating their accounts these days. Some may need to supplement tens of thousands of yuan, and everyone is unsure why the sudden push for payments now.”
Social media discussions on the issue have surged, with some netizens suggesting that this indicates increasing financial pressure on local governments. One user commented, “As a province known for its civil service exams, Shandong has too many civil servants. The government can’t sustain wealth redistribution anymore.”
Others have commented that when the “leeks” (referring to taxpayers) are not enough, the “sickle” (referring to government intervention) will eventually turn inward, indicating a convergence of burdens inside and outside the system.
Many netizens are concerned about the situation of employees within the system. Some comments highlight the shift from having a secure job to potentially becoming self-funded within the system. There are also observations that delays in salary payments for grassroots employees are not isolated cases in some areas, further straining individuals who were already under financial pressure.
As November arrived, public officials and employees in various cities in China began receiving similar notifications. A teacher in Hefei, Anhui, using the pseudonym Li Shufang, mentioned that at the end of November, her school announced internally that supplementary social security payments were required. She added that teachers felt immense pressure as the school did not provide a clear explanation for the deficits. The period for which payments needed to be filled varied, with amounts calculated based on individual salary bases.
Ma Xiangdong, working in the human resources system in Helan County, Yinchuan City, disclosed that several town and village civil servants in the region had their salaries and benefits withheld. He stated, “Salary and benefits delays are widespread here. At the grassroots level, only basic wages are being paid now, with benefits and subsidies being cut off. Funds for rural subsistence allowances are also in arrears, indicating a bleak outlook for next year.”
Another netizen informed reporters that several provinces had initiated social security audits in the latter half of the year, requiring agencies and institutions to meticulously check their payment records. Mr. Ge from Shanxi mentioned that some regions had previously used lump-sum payments for social security, leading to a lack of transparency in accounting practices and putting pressure on individuals to make up for the shortfalls.
Instances of delayed salary payments, reduced benefits, and related issues have been reported among government employees, teachers, and staff in certain institutions across China. Some public officials have mentioned that local units began asking employees to supplement their previous insufficient social security payments this year. Multiple analysts highlight that these occurrences signify challenges faced by local finances and the social security system. Concerns have been raised that if the systems are not stable, it could impact grassroots public services and welfare.
Financial scholar Li Bochuan analyzed that declining local government revenues and stricter social security enforcement have led some regions to clear historical debts towards the end of the year. He commented, “While the central government did not mandate uniform retroactive payments for three years, execution methods vary markedly across regions. Requiring civil servants to make their own social security contributions reflects the current economic tension under the existing system.”
Li Bochuan pointed out that after the reform merging government agencies and institutions’ pension insurance, payment responsibilities have gradually aligned with those of corporate employees. However, accumulated historical debts in aligning systems have led to the sudden emphasis on make-up payments, underscoring the need for transparency in execution procedures.
In various chat groups, users have shared information indicating that grassroots units in Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Liaoning, and other regions have started receiving notifications for supplementary payments. Many local governments have yet to provide public explanations regarding the detailed make-up amounts, reasons for the deficits, and subsequent arrangements.