CHINA said Monday that it will double down on efforts to encourage and support childbirth, including improving the maternity leave system and providing more affordable child care services. According to a circular released by the General Office of the State Council, local authorities will be asked to include individuals in flexible employment, migrant workers and those working in the gig economy — such as ride-hailing drivers, delivery couriers and livestreaming sellers — in the nation’s maternity insurance program, as part of a broader effort to build a fertility-friendly society and weave a stronger safety net for families looking to have a baby. Efforts will be made to ensure parents get their needed time off after welcoming a newborn into their families. China recorded a population decline for the second consecutive year in 2023, primarily because of a decrease in the number of women of childbearing ages and low willingness among couples to have babies. As local governments have rolled out fertility subsidy policies over the past few years, the circular asks them to form more detailed action plans to address the issue. The nation plans to improve its overall reproductive and pediatric services as well as expand the coverage of medical insurance to include certain labor pain relief methods, assisted reproductive technologies and more pediatric medicines. The circular suggests more government-subsidized, affordable child care services as a supplement to community-based child care centers and child care facilities at workplaces and homes. Those who operate child care centers may enjoy subsidies, tax rebates and lower fees for water, electricity, gas and heating, it says. Local authorities are encouraged to roll out policies to help families with more than one child to enroll their children at the same school and buy homes, and to motivate employers to build a family-friendly working environment by allowing flexible office hours and remote working options. The National Health Commission said that in 2023, China increased the amount of tax rebate for children’s education from 1,000 yuan (US$140) to 2,000 per child. So far, a total of 23 provincial-level regions have launched fertility subsidies and more than 20 regions have expanded insurance coverage for assisted reproductive services. (SD-Xinhua) | 