New policies must address 'pain points' to help raise fertility rate

Whether or not to have kids, or how many children to have, is a personal matter best left to the couples, but the introduction of favorable supportive policies at the national level can surely enhance their willingness to have kids.

According to a recent circular issued by the central authorities, China is determined to build a childbearing-friendly society and weave a stronger safety net for families looking to have a baby by strengthening support for childbearing parents, building a better childcare service system and offering education, housing, employment and other support.

It can be said that these specific measures, if implemented to the letter, will to a large extent mitigate the "pain points" that discourage many couples from having children.

China's population has experienced negative growth since 2022, with only 9.02 million newborns nationwide in 2023. At the same time, the country is grappling with a rapidly aging population, with elderly people aged 60 or above reaching 297 million by the end of 2023. There is a rising consensus that the country should double down efforts to improve support policies for childbearing parents.

Targeting the continuous rise in reproductive costs and the heavy economic burden of raising and educating children, the guideline rolls out some supportive measures. They include strengthening maternity insurance — which expands the scope of medical reimbursement to cover certain labor pain relief methods, assisted reproductive technologies and more pediatric medicines — increasing maternity leave, establishing maternity subsidies, and strengthening reproductive health services.

This is the first time the establishment of a maternity subsidy system has been put forward at the national level. The circular vows to increase the supply of government-subsidized, affordable childcare services and develop childcare centers and facilities at workplaces and neighborhoods.

Fertility support policy is a systematic project, and considering the varying needs of different families, it is correct for the guideline to take into account marriage, childbearing, parenting and education as a whole, and put forward specific measures to address these aforementioned concerns.

Facts prove that when a country enters an era of aging population and low fertility, it is difficult to encourage couples to have more children. For that, joint efforts from families, society and the State are needed.

It is believed that only when the country addresses the "pain points" responsible for the low birthrate, increases inputs and takes practical measures to build a childbearing-friendly society can the willingness of couples to have more than one child gradually increase.