Lack of work-injury insurance does not remove benefits; the employer owes the same items and amounts
If a Chinese employer failed to insure you, it must pay the same statutory benefits itself. Non-enrollment adds employer penalties, including arrears, daily 0.05% late charges and, after continued nonpayment, 1–3 times the arrears. “We did not insure you, so we cannot compensate you” is not a defense.
What it takes
No application fee described. A resisting employer may require arbitration or litigation lasting months and persistent follow-up.
What you may gain
The regulations expressly require an uninsured employer that should have enrolled to pay an injured employee according to the same benefit items and standards. Only the payer changes, not the entitlement.
Context & considerations
Failure to insure penalizes the employer; it does not reduce the employee's benefit standard.
Research & references
Work-Injury Insurance Regulations, Article 62(2), employer payment at statutory items and standards when required insurance was absent. Paragraph 1 requires enrollment and back contributions, daily 0.05% additions from default and a 1–3-times-arrears fine for continued nonpayment. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm