In a concerted effort to address demographic challenges and declining birth rates, China has established an enhanced childbearing and child-rearing support system, featuring extended maternity leave, increased childbirth allowances, and subsidized childcare services.
According to reports by the National Health Commission (NHC) on the occasion of the 35th World Population Day, all provinces have now extended maternity leave by at least 60 days, with paternity leave set at 15 days. Annual parental leave for families with young children also ranges from five to 20 days, with maternity leave uniformly extended to a minimum of 158 days.
Demographers suggest that these measures should be further augmented to address underlying concerns among young couples, particularly regarding employment stability and equitable income distribution, in order to stimulate higher birth rates. The NHC's theme for this year's World Population Day emphasizes the importance of family education, traditions, and nurturing environments for marriage and child-rearing, aiming to heighten public awareness on demographic issues affecting China's sustainable development.
Professor Li Jianmin of Nankai University's Institute of Population and Development underscores that ensuring women's employment post-childbirth and offering flexible working arrangements may yield more significant outcomes than solely increasing maternity leave. To mitigate financial pressures associated with childbearing, rearing, and education, China introduced a monthly tax deduction of 1,000 yuan for infant care in 2022, later raising this to 2,000 yuan per month for children under three in 2023.
Local governments have also experimented with childbirth and child-rearing subsidies. For instance, Yunnan Province grants a one-time subsidy of 2,000 yuan for a second child and 5,000 yuan for a third child, complemented by an annual childcare allowance of 800 yuan until the child is three. Similarly, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region offers respective one-time subsidies of 2,000 yuan and 4,000 yuan for second and third children, accompanied by a monthly allowance of no less than 200 yuan for families with a third child until the child reaches three years of age.
Li Jianmin argues that the root causes of high child-rearing costs and income disparity must be addressed directly, rather than relying on individual income tax deductions that may have limited impact on lower-income households. He advocates for a unified national subsidy policy to ensure consistency and sustainability, as current local government initiatives are often contingent on fiscal capacity and lack long-term commitment.
The scarcity of childcare services for infants and toddlers under three years of age is identified as a key deterrent to childbirth. In response, the NHC and the National Development and Reform Commission designated 33 cities as pilot zones for national infant and toddler childcare services last year, implementing supportive policies to foster accessible childcare solutions. Nanjing, one of the pilot cities, has introduced measures such as financial incentives, venue provision, rent reductions, and tax breaks to encourage the development of affordable childcare systems by private entities.
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