Analysis of Migrant Workers’ Low Participation in Old-age Insurance From a Capabilities Approach

Abstract

Migrant workers in China play a crucial role in economic development. But they face serious problem of old-age income after they get old. Along with the establishment of market-oriented economy, labour’s risk increased. Additional from that, family planning and changes of lifestyles have reduced the insurance function of a family. Government made a series of policy changes and the old-age insurance policies seem encourage migrant workers. But the low participation still remains. Some researchers hold that migrant workers do not realise the importance of old-age insurance or do not want to participate in it. But the low participation still remains. Some researchers hold that migrant workers do not realise the importance of old-age insurance or do not want to participate in it. I refuse the point of review. I will argue that government development philosophy do not support creating migrant workers’ capabilities, which lead to the low participation. Policies review and case study will be used to explain that migrant workers’ strong need in old-age insurance, their rational choice of not strive for the rights of old-age insurance and their lack of capabilities in participation of old-age insurance scheme.