China, the world’s most populous nation, has announced a comprehensive plan to increase its declining birth rate. The plan focuses on enhancing maternity insurance coverage, improving maternity leave policies, and establishing a maternal support fund.
On Tuesday, Chinese media reported that the General Office of the State Council of China had released a document titled “Several Measures to Accelerate the Improvement of the Childbirth Support Policy System and Promote the Construction of a Childbirth-Friendly Society.”
Specifically, the plan aims to enhance the leave system to guarantee statutory leave for childbirth and childcare, strengthen childcare services, and improve the quality of pediatric healthcare. Furthermore, the government will encourage elementary and secondary schools to actively implement after-school programs while urging companies to adopt flexible and remote working.
China also intends to promote a new culture of childbirth and marriage. Population expert He Yafu expressed optimism in an interview with the Global Times, stating, “These comprehensive measures could lead to an increase in the birth rate.”
China has faced population declines for two consecutive years. It lost its title as the world’s most populous country to Indar, marking the lowest birth rate in history.
