In a bold move to tackle the challenges of an aging population, China has unveiled a series of new policies aimed at creating a more supportive environment for having and raising children. 🍼✨
On Monday, the State Council released a directive outlining 13 targeted measures designed to enhance childbirth support services, expand childcare systems, and foster a birth-friendly social atmosphere.
One of the key provisions includes extending the maternity insurance scheme to individuals in flexible employment and rural migrant workers who are already part of the basic medical insurance scheme. This means new parents can feel more secure taking time off work, with local authorities urged to enforce policies regarding maternity, paternity, and childcare leave.
The initiative also aims to improve the childbirth subsidy system and offer personal income tax relief related to childbirth. Excitingly, suitable labor pain relief and assisted reproductive technology services will now be added to the list of medical services eligible for insurance reimbursement.
To promote healthier lifestyles among the youth, the country plans to enhance health education for adolescents, addressing unintended pregnancies and improving care for early pregnancies and abortions.
On the healthcare front, there will be efforts to improve the childcare service system by establishing more high-quality pediatric hospitals and nurturing pediatricians. The goal is to expand and distribute quality pediatric medical resources at the community level, making healthcare more accessible for the little ones. 🏥👶
Access to childcare for children under three is set to improve, with plans to establish childcare service centers at the prefecture and city levels. Moreover, childcare facilities will be integrated into the planning and construction of new communities. To assist families with multiple children in purchasing homes, local authorities are encouraged to raise the loan limits from the housing provident fund.
Creating a supportive social atmosphere for marriage and childbirth is also on the agenda. The document encourages local governments to actively provide specialized services such as marriage and family counseling. It seeks to change traditional practices like extravagant wedding celebrations and high bride prices to relieve the burden on males while fostering a positive marriage culture. 💍💞
Importantly, the directive emphasizes leveraging community organizations, enterprises, and individuals to jointly create a childbirth-friendly social environment.
As one of the world's most populous nations, China is facing demographic shifts with a rapidly aging population. Individuals aged 65 and older now comprise over 14 percent of the population, marking a transition into a moderately aged society.
Current data shows that nearly 300 million Chinese citizens are aged 60 or above—a figure projected to exceed 400 million by 2033 and approach 500 million by 2050. By then, seniors are expected to represent nearly 35 percent of the nation's population.
In response to these changes, China has gradually relaxed its family planning policies over the past decade. Starting in 2013, the government allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child. This was followed in 2016 by a policy permitting married couples to have two children, effectively phasing out the decades-long one-child policy. In 2021, support was announced for couples wishing to have a third child.
With these new measures, China is taking significant steps toward supporting families and encouraging a more balanced demographic structure. Here's to building a brighter future together! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
