The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) approved a relaxation of its strict two-child policy to allow all couples to have up to three children
The one-child policy implemented in China for over three decades prevented over 400 million births, according to official information in China.
But now, the decades-old one-child policy, which policymakers say gave rise to the demographic crisis in the country, is finally being given up.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in China passed the revised Population and Family Planning Law, which allows Chinese couples to have three children.
This was done to address the reluctance of Chinese couples to have more children. They were apprehensive of mounting costs and social and economic support measures, which will now be in place to address the concerns.
The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) approved a relaxation of its strict two-child policy to allow all couples to have up to three children.
The new law stipulates that the country will take supportive measures, including those in finances, taxes, insurance, education, housing and employment. These steps will be taken to reduce the burden as well as the cost of raising children, state-run China Daily reported.
The decision to permit the third child came after this month’s once-in-a-decade census. It showed that China’s population grew at the slowest pace to 1.412 billion amid official projections that the decline may begin as early as next year
NPC has taken this step to cope with new circumstances in social and economic development and promote balanced long-term population growth, the report said.
The decision to permit the third child came after this month’s once-in-a-decade census. It showed that China’s population grew at the slowest pace to 1.412 billion amid official projections that the decline may begin as early as next year.
The situation is worrisome as the population of people above 60 years grew to 264 million, up by 18.7% last year.