(Yicai Global) Aug. 17 -- China has issued a set of measures to speed up the establishment of a policy system to support the birth of babies that would ultimately spur the birth rate and promote the long-term balanced increase of the population.

The measures include improving prenatal and postnatal care services, completing the maternity leave and income guarantee mechanism, boosting the supply of quality education, building a childbirth-friendly employment environment, and strengthening housing and tax support, according to a document issued yesterday by 17 Chinese government departments, including the National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Last year, China’s birth rate was 7.52 per 1,000 people, the lowest since records began in 1949, while the country’s mortality rate was 7.18 per 1,000 people. The mortality rate will slowly increase due to the aging population, meaning that the population growth rate will go negative if the birth rate falls under 7 per 1,000 people.

The document also proposed to use the central budget to invest in the construction of 10 national and regional pediatric centers during the 14th Five-Year Plan, while promoting the building of mother-, child-, and infant-friendly hospitals.

Moreover, the authorities will guide local governments to gradually incorporate appropriate labor analgesia and assisted reproductive technology programs into the allowance, based on the conditions of local health insurance funds.

Chinese women of childbearing age have low fertility willingness, with an average of 1.64 intended children, down from 1.73 in 2019 and 1.76 in 2017, according to the 2021 NHC survey.

The document also mentioned helping workers balance their work and family, while promoting fair employment and career development. Employers should help staffers with child care to adopt flexible working hours, working remotely, or other support measures.

Parents should also be able to apply for special personal income tax deductions for bearing the cost of infants and children under the age of three. Families with multiple children purchasing their first home in certain cities may obtain higher personal housing accumulation fund loans.

To adapt to the demographic changes, China issued two- and three-child policies in 2016 and 2021, respectively. A recent statistical bulletin released by the NHC showed that 41.4 percent of births last year were the second child and 14.5 percent the third or above. Meanwhile, the number of firstborns fell below the five million threshold for the first time, at only 51.8 percent of the level in 2016.

Editor: Futura Costaglione