In this challenging economic downturn, we can all feel the stress of life. However, in this seemingly contradictory reality, the rise of the average wage base and the social security contribution base is like a double-edged sword, which not only reflects the pace of social progress, but also brings the dual pressure of enterprises and employees.
Beijing, a bustling metropolis, has witnessed all these changes. From 2020 to 2024, in just four years, the upper and lower limits of the social security payment base are like wild horses, running wildly. The labor cost of the enterprise and the actual income of the employees are all tested in this "rising tide".
The 88% increase is undoubtedly a nightmare for many small and medium-sized enterprises. They struggle through the storm and try to find their way to survive in this red sea. And employees, in the face of dwindling income, who do they talk to about their helplessness and anxiety?
Pensions for retirees are still rising, which is supposed to be a reward for their hard work, but in such an economic environment, it has become a heavy burden on the shoulders of enterprises. Some companies, under this pressure, had to choose to close, and those employees who had dedicated their youth to the enterprise became unemployed overnight. This scene makes people feel a little chill in their hearts.
In the face of such a predicament, some people put forward a bold suggestion: retirees go abroad for more than half a year, and the pension is only issued to personal accounts. This suggestion is like a stone into still water, stirring up ripples. We have to wonder if this is really a viable solution.
I think that behind this suggestion is a response to the helplessness of reality, and a trade-off between fairness and efficiency. It is the right of retirees to go abroad for retirement and enjoy exotic customs, but should such rights be restricted when domestic enterprises are struggling?
Let's think about it from another angle, those retirees were also the builders of the country and the pillars of the family. Their pension is the reward for their hard work all their life. Would it be fair if we cut the pensions of businesses just because they were stressed? Is this a denial of their efforts?
However, the plight of the enterprise is also an indisputable fact. Can we find a more reasonable balance on this issue? For example, improve the overall level of pension insurance, optimize the management of social security funds, so that every penny is used on the cutting edge. Or, through tax incentives, policy support, etc., to reduce the social security burden of enterprises, so that enterprises can better survive and develop.
Can we learn from foreign experience and explore diversified pension models, so that retirees have more choices, rather than relying solely on pensions? In this way, the quality of life of retirees can be guaranteed, and the burden on enterprises and the state can be reduced.
On this issue, we need more wisdom and courage to explore and practice. We can't simply do it all, and we can't put too much pressure on either side. What we need is a win-win solution, a plan that allows society to develop in harmony.
Finally, I would like to ask: in this complex and volatile era, how can we find the path that can not only protect the rights and interests of retirees, but also reduce the burden on enterprises? Can our society create a fairer and more sustainable pension model? And what kind of efforts and contributions are you, as a member of this society, willing to make to this end? Let's think together and find answers together.