China is rolling out a childcare subsidy system and enhancing supportive policies nationwide aimed to boost births and support families, the country's National Development and Reform Commission announced on Monday.
As part of the initiative, the government will establish a childcare subsidy system and create a special relending tool to boost key service consumption areas and enhance the development of the elderly care industry.
Meanwhile, localities are accelerating the implementation of supportive policies designed to boost births. So far, 10 provinces and regions in China have fully realized the direct payment of maternity allowances to individuals.
This change simplifies the previously complex process, where funds were first transferred to employers before being passed onto employees, significantly speeding up the time required to receive the allowance.
China's maternity allowance is calculated based on the average monthly wage of the employee's company from the previous year, with the higher the average wage, the higher the maternity pay offered.
In the latest move, China's National Medical Insurance Administration has streamlined the process for claiming maternity allowances, eliminating the need for additional documents such as birth permits, fertility service certificates, and marriage certificates.
In the future, more regions will be encouraged to directly pay maternity allowances to female employees, and pilot programs for those engaged in flexible employment to participate in maternity insurance will be launched.
In Zhuzhou City of central China's Hunan Province, the application process for maternity allowance has been streamlined since February. The application can now be submitted online in a one-stop manner immediately after childbirth, instead of waiting until the end of the maternity leave period. The processing time has also been halved from 20 down to 10 working days.
Wang Shuangshuang, a 36-year-old local resident who is now expecting her third child, said it previously could take around eight months to receive the allowance after giving birth, but now the application process is much faster and smoother.
"I can apply online myself after giving birth. I only need to fill out a form without having to run around. It's very convenient and thoughtful," she said.
In addition to financial support, China is also expanding inclusive childcare services to address the acute problems facing families. This year, 660,000 new inclusive childcare spots will be added nationwide, providing affordable and quality childcare services for residents.
Currently, over 1,300 counties and cities have introduced construction and operation subsidies for childcare institutions to lower service costs and make childcare more accessible for families with infants. For example, Shenyang City in northeast China's Liaoning Province is accelerating the layout of community-based inclusive childcare stations and applying residential prices for water, electricity, gas, and heating fees for childcare institutions, which used to cost much more in the past.
China introduces childcare subsidy system, expands supportive policies for families
