Beijing (ANTARA) - China allocates more than 100 billion yuan for\nchildcare subsidies. The national subsidy program launched in 2025\nprovides a subsidy of 300 yuan per month for each child under the age of\nthree.<\/p>\n
Fiscal authorities at all levels nationwide have allocated funds for\nthe subsidies, including more than 90 billion yuan from the central\ngovernment, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission\n(NHC) of China, at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual\nsession of China\u2019s top legislature.<\/p>\n
More than 33 million eligible children have been covered so far, Lei\nsaid, adding that the payments help families raise their children and\nsupport healthy development.<\/p>\n
Birth-friendly society is a key aspect in the draft outline of the\n15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which is currently being reviewed in\nthe ongoing session of the legislature.<\/p>\n
\u2018The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a crucial stage for China\u2019s\npopulation development,\u2019 said He Dan, head of the Population and\nDevelopment Research Center under the Chinese National Health\nCommission. He added that the country will take systematic steps, from\nplanning and funding to policy formulation, to effectively boost\npeople\u2019s willingness to have children.<\/p>\n
In addition to direct subsidies, various measures are being taken to\npromote the country\u2019s population development.<\/p>\n
\u2018During the past year alone, 890,000 publicly funded childcare slots\nhave been added, bringing the total to 6.6 million,\u2019 Lei said,\ndescribing the expansion as an important policy support.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, birth leave in China has generally been extended to more\nthan 158 days, accompanied by paternity leave for couples and parental\nleave, so new mothers feel more supported.<\/p>\n
The draft broader plan calls for expanding the coverage of maternity\ninsurance, full implementation of maternity leave policy, and\nstrengthening childcare services, according to Liu Dechun, an official\nat the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).<\/p>\n
The draft also aims to increase the registration rate of children\nunder three by 6 percentage points, by supporting the integration of\nchildcare services with kindergartens and diverse publicly funded\nchildcare programs, Liu said at another press conference on\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
\u2018Making a birth-friendly society is a systematic task,\u2019 said Yang\nFan, associate dean at the Population and Health Faculty of Renmin\nUniversity of China, noting that the key in the 15th Five-Year Plan\nperiod is to convert fragmented policies into an integrated system,\nthereby creating support that covers the entire life cycle.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-allocates-more-than-100-billion-yuan-for-childcare-subsidies-1772972240", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }