EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	24. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Employees of the Company located in the PRC are covered by the retirement schemes defined by local practice and regulations, which are essentially defined contribution schemes. The calculation of contributions for eligible employees is based on 16% of the applicable payroll cost in 2019. The expense incurred by the Company to these defined contributions schemes was $9,412, $12,544 and $11,738 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. In addition, in 2019, the Company is required by PRC law to contribute approximately 6-8.5%, 8%, 0.5-0.7% and 0.9-2.5% of applicable salaries for medical insurance benefits, housing funds, unemployment and other statutory benefits, respectively. The PRC government is directly responsible for the payment of the benefits to these employees. The amounts contributed for these benefit schemes were $10,447, $11,211 and $11,409 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

24. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Employees of the Company located in the PRC are covered by the retirement schemes defined by local practice and regulations, which are essentially defined contribution schemes. The calculation of contributions for eligible employees is based on 16% of the applicable payroll cost in 2019. The expense incurred by the Company to these defined contributions schemes was $9,412, $12,544 and $11,738 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

In addition, in 2019, the Company is required by PRC law to contribute approximately 6-8.5%, 8%, 0.5-0.7% and 0.9-2.5% of applicable salaries for medical insurance benefits, housing funds, unemployment and other statutory benefits, respectively. The PRC government is directly responsible for the payment of the benefits to these employees. The amounts contributed for these benefit schemes were $10,447, $11,211 and $11,409 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.