Employer of Record China
Hire Employees in China Without Setting Up a Company
Hire employees in China without establishing a local entity through our Employer of Record China (EOR China) solution. FastLaneRecruit acts as your legal employer via our China entity, enabling you to hire in China without WFOE setup and build a compliant local team without the time, cost, and complexity of incorporating a company.
We manage the full employment lifecycle in accordance with China labour law (Labour Contract Law and Social Insurance Law), including payroll processing, employment contracts, statutory contributions (social insurance and housing fund), and HR administration.
This allows you to hire employees in China quickly and compliantly, while avoiding the operational burden and legal complexity of managing local employment, tax, and payroll requirements.
No entity setup. No compliance risk. Just fast, fully managed hiring in China through a trusted Employer of Record in China.
Why Use an Employer of Record in China?
China is one of the world’s largest and most strategic talent markets, with strong capabilities in technology, manufacturing, engineering, and operations. It remains a top destination for companies expanding into Asia.
However, hiring in China requires strict compliance with local labour laws, including written employment contracts, mandatory social insurance contributions, housing fund payments, and individual income tax (IIT) reporting. These rules vary by province and require ongoing administration.
Setting up a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) can take months and involves legal, tax, and operational complexity before you can hire a single employee.
With FastLaneRecruit China EOR services, you can:
- Hire employees without registering a local company
- Onboard talent in days instead of months
- Stay fully compliant with Chinese labour law and Social Insurance Law
- Manage payroll, IIT, and mandatory contributions accurately
- Reduce HR, legal, and entity administration workload
- Scale your team flexibly across China
China Employment Law Snapshot
Employment in China is governed primarily by the Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Social Insurance Law, administered at both national and provincial levels.
Key Employment Regulations in China
| Category | Details |
| Currency | Chinese Yuan (CNY) / Renminbi (RMB) |
| Working Hours | 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week standard under PRC Labour Law |
| Public Holidays | 7 statutory national holidays (adjusted annually by State Council) |
| Tax Year | Calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31) |
| Languages | Mandarin (Standard Chinese) |
| Minimum Monthly Benchmark | Varies by city (e.g. Shanghai ~RMB 2,500+ statutory minimum wage baseline) |
| Employment Law | Labour Contract Law of the PRC and related labour regulations |
| Social Insurance | Pension, medical, unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance |
| Housing Fund | Mandatory Housing Provident Fund (~5%–12%, varies by city and employer policy) |
| Payroll System | Monthly payroll cycle in CNY with statutory social insurance and IIT compliance |
| Individual Income Tax (IIT) | Progressive tax system (3%–45%) based on monthly taxable income |
| Misclassification Risk | Fines, back payments of social insurance, tax penalties, and legal liability for non-compliance |
| Payroll Accuracy Expectation | Strict compliance standards with provincial reporting and audit requirements |
| Overtime Pay | 150% (weekdays), 200% (rest days), 300% (public holidays) under PRC Labour Law |
| Annual Leave | 5–15 days depending on cumulative years of service |
| Sick Leave | Protected medical treatment period (3–24 months depending on tenure) |
| Public Holidays | 7 official national holidays plus annual State Council-adjusted rest days |
| Probation Period | 1–6 months depending on contract duration (max 6 months for long-term contracts) |
| Notice Period | Typically 30 days’ written notice or payment in lieu unless contract states otherwise |
| Termination Rules | Strict statutory grounds under Labour Contract Law; severance required in eligible cases |
| Work Permit Requirement | Foreign employees must hold valid Z visa and work permit authorization |
| Social Security System | Multi-component system covering five insurances + housing provident fund contributions |
Statutory Contributions in China
China requires employers and employees to contribute to 5 social insurances + housing provident fund, calculated based on local salary ceilings that vary by city (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai). FastLaneRecruit ensures all contributions are calculated, filed, and submitted according to local municipal regulations.
| Contribution | Employer | Employee | Notes |
| Pension Insurance | ~16% | ~8% | Based on local wage base |
| Medical Insurance (incl. maternity) | ~9–10% | ~2% | Varies by province |
| Unemployment Insurance | ~0.5–1% | ~0.5% | Regional variation applies |
| Work Injury Insurance | ~0.2–1.9% | 0% | Employer-only contribution |
| Housing Provident Fund | ~5–12% | ~5–12% | Mandatory matched contribution |
What FastLaneRecruit Handles
We provide end-to-end employment management in China:
Payroll & Compliance
- Monthly payroll processing in CNY
- IIT (Individual Income Tax) calculation and filing
- Social insurance and housing fund submissions
HR & Employment Management
- Employment contracts compliant with PRC Labour Contract Law
- Employee onboarding and documentation
- Leave and attendance tracking
- Termination and exit compliance
Regulatory Administration
- Ongoing labour law compliance updates
- Employee lifecycle management
- Statutory reporting and filings
EOR vs Setting Up a Company in China
| Feature | Employer of Record (EOR) | Local Entity (WFOE / Subsidiary) |
| Time to Hire | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 months+ (including incorporation and setup) |
| Setup Cost | None | High (incorporation, legal, office setup, registration fees) |
| Payroll Compliance | Fully managed (payroll, IIT, social insurance, housing fund) | Internal responsibility |
| Social Insurance | Managed and filed by EOR under local regulations | Employer-managed with local registrations |
| Tax Registration (IIT) | Managed via EOR entity | Required for local company |
| HR Administration | Fully included (contracts, onboarding, offboarding) | Requires internal HR team |
| Local Director Requirement | Not required | Required for incorporation (WFOE structure) |
| Employment Law Compliance | Managed under PRC Labour Contract Law via EOR entity | Fully company responsibility |
| Misclassification Risk | Shared via EOR structure (reduced exposure) | Fully borne by company |
| Scalability | Fast, flexible hiring across China and APAC | Slower expansion and restructuring needed |
| Best For | Market entry, pilot hiring, fast scaling | Long-term established operations in China |
Employer of Record in China is the fastest and lowest-risk way to hire employees without establishing a legal entity, while ensuring compliance with PRC labour and tax regulations.
Employment Pass & Expat Hiring Support
Hiring foreign talent in China requires compliance with strict visa and work permit rules governed by Chinese immigration authorities.
FastLaneRecruit supports employers with compliant expatriate hiring through our China EOR structure.
We provide:
Work visa (Z visa) compliance guidance
Work permit application support
Employment contract alignment for foreign hires
Payroll setup in compliance with IIT regulations
Social insurance eligibility assessment for expats
Relocation and onboarding coordination
This ensures your international employees can work legally in China without requiring your own entity setup.
How Much Does Employer of Record Cost in China?
FastLaneRecruit China EOR services start from: USD 259 per employee per month.
This includes:
- Employment contract management
- Monthly payroll processing
- Social insurance & housing fund administration
- Individual income tax (IIT) compliance
- HR and regulatory support
No hidden incorporation costs. No entity setup fees. Just predictable monthly pricing based on headcount.
For enterprise hiring or multi-country expansion, we provide customised pricing. Contact us for a tailored quote and we’ll design the most efficient and compliant setup for your business.
Pricing Starting From (Per Employee)
Includes payroll processing, statutory contribution calculations, payslips, and salary disbursement.
USD 259 per month
How Our Employer of Record Service Works
1
Step 1: Select Your Candidate
You select the talent you want to hire in China.
2
Step 2: Employment Contract Setup
We draft a compliant employment contract aligned with PRC Labour Contract Law.
3
Step 3: Employee Onboarding
Your employee is onboarded through our China legal entity with full documentation and registration.
4
Step 4: Payroll & Contributions
We process monthly payroll, IIT filings, and mandatory social insurance contributions.
5
Step 5: Ongoing Compliance
We manage HR administration, compliance updates, and employee lifecycle support.
Why Choose FastLaneRecruit for EOR in China?
FastLaneRecruit provides a compliant, scalable, and simplified way to hire in China through our locally established entity.
Local China Expertise
Deep understanding of PRC labour law, IIT rules, and social insurance systems.
Fully Compliant Hiring
Every contract, payroll cycle, and statutory filing is legally aligned with Chinese regulations.
Faster Market Entry
Hire employees in days instead of waiting months for WFOE setup.
APAC Expansion Support
Scale seamlessly from China into other Asian markets under one EOR partner.
Dedicated HR & Payroll Specialists
Real human support for payroll, onboarding, compliance, and employee lifecycle management.
Input Assumptions
Cost Breakdown
Hiring in Australia
Hiring in Malaysia via EOR
Malaysia Employee Deductions
Malaysia Statutory Summary
Frequently Asked Questions about Our Employer of Record China Services
Got more questions?
Yes. With FastLaneRecruit’s Employer of Record service, you can hire employees in China without setting up a local company.
Employers must contribute to five social insurances and the housing provident fund. Rates vary by city and are fully managed by FastLaneRecruit.
We manage monthly payroll, IIT filing, and social insurance contributions in compliance with PRC labour and tax laws.
Typically 30 days or as defined in the employment contract, subject to Labour Contract Law requirements.
Yes. We support compliant hiring of expatriates with work visa and payroll administration guidance.
Ready to Hire in China?
Build your team in China without the complexity of setting up a local entity.
FastLaneRecruit helps you hire, onboard, and manage employees while we handle payroll, tax, social insurance, and compliance under Chinese labour law.
Book a Free Call with Our EOR Specialist