Related News
China offers funeral subsidies
By Wang Xiang |
December 23, 2009, Wednesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINA'S government plans to cover basic funeral costs for every citizen after reports complaining that Chinese "can't afford to die" as funeral costs soar.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on its Website today that the government will first start to cover basic funeral costs for poorer people, with coverage eventually expanding to all citizens, without specifying a figure.
The ministry did not give a time frame but has recommended government in wealthier provinces cover funeral expenses for the poor. Beijing City government began offering funeral subsidies of 5,000 yuan (US$732) each in April.
However, some tombs in Shanghai can cost up to 50,000 yuan per square meter, much higher than house prices. Costs of funerals have risen fourfold since the 1990s.
Funeral providers are now hooking up with mortuaries to sell their high-price products.
"The funeral providers are so swift that a salesman even called me before I was told my husband had passed away," a woman surnamed Xu told Southern Metropolis Daily.
The newspaper also revealed that some staff at hospital mortuaries would stop families from taking their dead relative away if they don't buy urns from them.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on its Website today that the government will first start to cover basic funeral costs for poorer people, with coverage eventually expanding to all citizens, without specifying a figure.
The ministry did not give a time frame but has recommended government in wealthier provinces cover funeral expenses for the poor. Beijing City government began offering funeral subsidies of 5,000 yuan (US$732) each in April.
However, some tombs in Shanghai can cost up to 50,000 yuan per square meter, much higher than house prices. Costs of funerals have risen fourfold since the 1990s.
Funeral providers are now hooking up with mortuaries to sell their high-price products.
"The funeral providers are so swift that a salesman even called me before I was told my husband had passed away," a woman surnamed Xu told Southern Metropolis Daily.
The newspaper also revealed that some staff at hospital mortuaries would stop families from taking their dead relative away if they don't buy urns from them.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
