Industrial organizations told to lower membership fees

BEIJING — National-level industrial organizations and chambers of commerce should voluntarily lower high membership fees and prohibit improper charges to reduce the burden on enterprises, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

The requirement were made in accordance to the central authorities’ major decision on further tax and fee cuts amid increasing downward pressure, said the ministry in a statement on the annual examination of national-level social organizations.

“Information on such fee adjustments should be included in the examination materials.”

Other types of social organizations at national levels are also required to submit information such as their annual work reports and financial audit reports.

The statement reiterated that any social organizations found to be engaged in activities that harm national unification, national security, ethnic unity or jeopardizing the national interest/public interest will be appraised as “unqualified” in the examination and punished according to law.

A third-party will also be introduced to conduct random on-site verifications of the information submitted, the statement said.