Hey fam, big news from China! 👶 This Monday, the National People's Congress (NPC) kicked off the first reading of a brand-new draft law to boost childcare services and support parents.
Initiated in 2023, the draftrom eight chapters and 76 articles ragged lawmakers to Beijing, Guangdong, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia to see on-the-ground childcare challenges. The goal? A demand-driven, problem-focused framework to raise service quality, ensure qualified providers, and tighten oversight. ⚖️
Key highlights:
- Affordable options: expand public childcare to ease parenting budgets 💼
- Safety net: mandatory approvals from health authorities, proper facilities, and a strict "blacklist" barring individuals with serious criminal records from childcare roles 🚸
- Diverse services: high-quality, reasonably priced, and widely accessible care
Why now? China’s birthrate hit a record low in 2024—just 6.77 per 1,000 people with 9.54 million births—down from 12.07 per 1,000 and 16.55 million births a decade ago. High childcare and living costs are a major factor.
China’s been rolling out supportive policies, like making childbirth essentially free by 2026 under national medical insurance and an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan (~$511) per child under three. This new law could be the next big step to lighten the load for young families.
Stay tuned as the draft moves through readings and watch how it shapes the future of parenting in China! 🌱
Reference(s):
China's draft law on childcare services submitted for first reading
cgtn.com
