China a step closer to three-child policy but what support will women need?

Name: How much does it cost to raise a child in China?
Uploaded: 2021-06-19T11:16:34.000Z
Duration: 3 min 49 s
Description: How much does it cost to raise a child in China?

Standing committee of the national legislature will consider proposed changes to family planning law to counter ageing population

Local authorities survey public to find out just how willing couples are to expand their family

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High housing and education costs mean some Chinese families are already struggling to have two children. Photo: EPA-EFE

Mimi Lau

Published: 7:16pm, 19 Jun 2021Updated: 7:55pm, 19 Jun 2021

Local governments across China are investigating ways to raise the birth rate as the country prepares to adopt legislation to allow all couples to have three children.

At a meeting on Friday night chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, China’s cabinet, the State Council, agreed to put proposed amendments to the Population and Family Planning Law to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for deliberation.

The decision comes after an announcement by the Communist Party’s Politburo last month to raise the previous two-child limit to help cope with the country’s ageing population.

Authorities are expected to introduce a range of incentives to encourage couples to have more children.

Many Chinese families are struggling with the high cost of housing and education as well as lack of job protections for women, putting a third child out of reach.

Last month, 28,000 of 31,000 respondents to an online poll by state news agency Xinhua said they “would not consider at all” having three children. The poll was soon taken down.

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How much does it cost to raise a child in China?

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