Factory Workers’ Early Withdrawal of Social Insurance Benefits

Abstract

This chapter explores the decisions of low-income factory workers employed in light manufacturing industries in relation to their social insurance benefits. It discusses why many factory workers have chosen to withdraw their social insurance money early rather than accumulating the social insurance benefits to receive a pension in their retirement. The chapter shows that, as workers experience unstable work and subsist on low incomes, they have come up with tactics that exploit the law to fulfil their daily needs. These tactics allow the workers to withdraw their social insurance early in a way that complies with the letter of the law but actually undermines law's objective and authority. The justifications for their actions reveal their struggle with family needs and financial hardship, and their moral obligations to family members. This chapter analyzes the complex and multifaceted nature of workers’ legal consciousness as they face a trade-off between their needs and their legal rights.