Measures help young couples expand families

What the CPPCC National Committee members say

Zheng Bingwen, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

China has created a three-tier social security system for retirees, which comprises a government-run pension fund, a supplementary pension fund operated by employers and various commercial insurance options.

China's financial reserves for such security options account for a much smaller share of the national GDP compared with developed nations due to inadequate second- and third-tier security choices. But they are the core assets to deal with the challenges of an aging society.

Efforts are needed to maximize the coverage of the pension fund programs run by employers, such as introducing an "automatic participation mechanism".

China rolled out pilot programs to promote commercial insurance tailor-made for retirees more than three years ago. It's time to unveil new policies that offer greater tax breaks, streamlined individual income tax deduction and more product options, ranging from insurance to funds to financial products.

Yuan Wen, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and president of Shanghai Normal University

It's getting increasingly important to help older people make themselves useful, which is also a central part of China's strategy of dealing with aging through active measures.

I suggest that such efforts be included in government planning with special funding.

The government should roll out special funding to help younger seniors establish volunteer groups and encourage them to offer basic health services to older people.

It should help seniors set up workshops that help promote cultural heritage and traditional skills. It also needs to build a lifelong education system and protect their access to further education and help them adapt to society.

Authorities need to develop the human resources of younger seniors scientifically and roll out workplace standards and job requirements suitable for seniors. Tax breaks can be used to encourage employers to hire older people.

Retirees should be encouraged to continue working, and authorities should set up a special award for those who have made outstanding contributions to society.

Efforts should be made to explore new types of insurance that facilitate seniors' reentry to the job market or provide volunteer services.

The whole of society needs to be encouraged to provide jobs and opportunities for the elderly through government purchase plans.

Wang Peian, vice-chairman of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee

What weighs down the fertility rate is not family planning restrictions, but young couples' unwillingness to procreate.

The wish to have kids has decreased significantly among the younger generation, and many opt to delay marriage or not to marry or have kids at all. Day care and other public services are inadequate. Home and education are overly expensive. Relevant services are overly marketized.

Further, workplace gender discrimination is common, paid maternity leave is short and leave for child rearing is nonexistent. That makes it difficult for young couples to balance work and family.

To step up fertility support, I propose that day care be made a basic public service.

The government should build a system featuring large numbers of smaller, affordable day care facilities, with the nongovernment sector heavily involved. The aim is to provide quality, affordable and convenient day care services.

In places with lower fertility rates and surplus kindergarten resources, government should encourage kindergartens to roll out day care services for children aged 2 to 3.