Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Social Insurance Law.
Article 2 The state establishes social insurance systems such as basic old-age insurance, basic medical insurance, industrial injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance, so as to guarantee citizens' right to receive material assistance from the state and society in accordance with the law in case of old age, illness, industrial injury, unemployment and maternity.
Article 58 An employing unit shall, within 30 days from the date of employment, apply to the social insurance agency for social insurance registration for its employees. If the social insurance has not been registered, the social insurance agency shall verify the social insurance premium it should pay. Employees-free individual industrial and commercial households who voluntarily participate in social insurance, part-time employees who do not participate in social insurance in the employing unit and other flexible employees shall apply to the social insurance agency for social insurance registration. The state establishes a national unified personal social security number. Personal social security number is a citizen's identity number.