Encouraging population growth

Welcoming a new arrival: China has a rapidly ageing population so it is saying yes to more children.

CHINA is ageing at a rapid pace of 3.62% annually, much higher than the world rate of 2.5%.

By 2050, the country will have 483 million citizens (or 34.1%) above 60 years old compared to the current 264 million (or 18.7%)

In a census revealed in May, only 253 million (or 18%) of its citizens were below 14 years old, and they will make up the main workforce in 30 years.

The nation, which once implemented the one-child policy due to overpopulation, has entered a severe phase of population ageing.

With a huge reduction in manpower expected, as well as increased spending on healthcare and welfare for the elderly, the nation must urgently draft plans to tackle the problem.

The United Nations has forecast that China’s population will reach its peak in 2030 with some 1.5 billion people before it falls to about 1.2 billion in 2080.

India is expected to become the world’s most populous country in six years.

In response to the ageing society problem, the Chinese government in June announced changes to its family planning policy by allowing couples to have a third child.

This has come just six years after the country amended the birth control policy, allowing couples to have a second child – but this change has come too late.

Experts feel that relaxing the policy will not have much effect due to the slow population growth.

The younger generation is not keen to have more than one child, citing financial and economic pressure, as well as time constraints, as their main concern.

Some couples have even opted for a “dink” (dual income no kids) lifestyle for more financial freedom.

Last year, China recorded a decline in the birth rate again with only 12 million babies born, 2.6 million (18%) less than 2019.

The average family size also shrunk from 3.58 people in 1999 to 2.62 people last year.

According to a survey, those more willing to have a second or third child are aged between 35 and 40.

Only 4% of the respondents from urban areas said “yes” to having a third child.

After the new birth control policy was revealed, local authorities started introducing incentives for having children.

In Beijing, women will enjoy an extra 30 days of maternity leave – in addition to the current three-month leave.

With employer’s consent, new mums could enjoy an extra one to three months off after finishing their maternity leave.

However, the 15-day paternity leave for spouses remains unchanged.

“The city government will accelerate the amendment of population planning regulations to offer more services or convenience to mothers with three children,” announced the Beijing Municipal Health Commission recently.

In Sichuan, the Panzhihua city government will give a monthly subsidy of 500 yuan (RM325) to every family with more than one child. However, this subsidy will end when the child turns three.

At the same time, the Jiangxi Provincial Health Commission will provide education support, housing benefits and tax breaks to bigger families, reported China Daily.

However, some couples feel that the monetary incentives are not as attractive as childcare services or infant healthcare benefits.

Currently, most working couples rely on their parents to care for their children. Many leave their children behind in their hometowns and only return once a year.

“Our income is just enough to make ends meet. We cannot fork out extra for a babysitter and we cannot count on our parents to take care of the children,” said Li Qun, a mother of two boys.

Her sons, aged one and four, are now living with her parents in Henan province and she visits them two or three times a year.

The high cost of living and expensive house prices in the city, as well as competition among school students, have made young couples reluctant to have more children.

Chinese economist Ren Zeping emphasised the importance of improving childcare services, protecting the employment rights of women and providing tax deductions to ensure couples are able to care for their children.

He supported calls for a subsidy of 3,000 yuan (RM1,960) to 5,000 yuan (RM3,260) for families who have a third child.

“China is already five years late with such plans. It should not wait any longer to encourage childbirth,” Ren added.

China’s population saw a great decline after World War II and the civil war.

When the New China was formed in 1949, it was in need of manpower to rebuild the country, thus encouraged childbirth.

Due to this, nearly 300 million babies were born in the next two decades and the population grew out of control to over 800 million in 1970.

The sudden population growth resulted in the Communist Party-led government imposing the one-child policy.