By She Yu, Research Department of Social Development, DRC; Hao Zhirong, China Center for International Knowledge on Development & Shi Yi, China Population and Development Research Center

Research Report, No.209, 2021 (Total 6274) 2021-7-28

Abstract: Encouraging enterprises to participate in providing childcare services is of great significance. It is an important channel for broadening the supply of inclusive childcare services, a positive approach to improve corporate culture and work efficiency, and also an effective way to reduce parenting pressure and promote family harmony. At present, encouraging enterprises to participate in providing childcare services has been included into the top-level national policy design, but the practical operation and implementation in many places still face a number of difficulties and challenges. They mainly include high cost of continuous investment, high operating pressure, the lack of professional and standardized business guidance, high risk expectations of safety and quality, and complex public opinion environment. Therefore, this paper notes that we need to increase policy and financial support for enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; provide normative guidance for enterprises to select appropriate and effective types of childcare services; formulate comprehensive policies to create a more friendly policy environment for enterprises to provide childcare services; continue to put relevant family-friendly policies into effect and promote the formation of a virtuous circle of mutual assistance service mechanisms within enterprises.

Keywords: childcare services, childcare services offered by enterprises, mutual assistance service, family-related policy options