People & Culture /

Social Welfare

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China society
Health in China
A protester holds a sign reading “General dream” as healthcare workers take part in a rally in Paris on Saturday called by doctors’ unions to demand the protection of health budgets. Photo: AFP
China economy

Crisis-stricken France weighs work-life balance against overseas competition

Political turmoil in France over budget, benefits exposes contrasts in work culture and employee productivity between Europe, China and US.

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Trending in China

China courier puts sick daughter in delivery box at work to save on childcare

China consumption

China vows more fiscal support to spur demand and curb local government debt

China birth rate

‘Milestone’: China launches first national childcare subsidies amid birth crisis

But analysts warn the cash transfers may be too little, too late.

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A nurse takes care of a newborn baby at a hospital in Fuyang, in China’s eastern Anhui province on January 17, 2023. Photo: AFP
A nurse takes care of a newborn baby at a hospital in Fuyang, in China’s eastern Anhui province on January 17, 2023. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

3 self-sufficient disabled Chinese men sell garlic for a living, inspiring many

Trio act as each other’s support system, currently focusing on work rather than considering marriage.

Trending in China

China woman raised in rescue centre for 9 years attends prestigious graduate school

Liang says she aspires to become a public servant, inspired by the social workers who lovingly nurtured her.

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Swimming

Ex-Hong Kong athlete swims 360km around Swedish island in mental health battle

Karl Palmqvist, a Swedish national who once trained with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, completes swim around Gotland in 21 days.

Karl Palmqvist, a Swedish national, trained with the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s triathlon national development squad as a teenager. Photo: Anders Klapp
Karl Palmqvist, a Swedish national, trained with the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s triathlon national development squad as a teenager. Photo: Anders Klapp
China's population

‘Financial burden’: why millions in China still quit national health insurance

Rising costs, stagnant incomes and growing distrust drive people to opt out of medical coverage, analysts say.

Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong enterprise’s drive to help ethnic minority groups through sport

Inherited Sports helps ethnic minority groups become qualified coaches and expand their career prospects.

China's population

Pay dads to parent? How China could fix birth rate crisis, according to new research

As Beijing grapples with population decline, new research argues subsidies for fathers could tackle falling global fertility rates.

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To-be fathers learn to take care of newborns at a maternal hospital in Handan in north China’s Hebei province on Sunday, June 21, 2020. Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images
China's population

Not a problem yet: why young Chinese put off planning for retirement

As China grapples with a rapidly ageing population, Beijing urges employees to plan ahead – but is anybody listening?

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Beijing has urged young people to plan early for retirement, but young Chinese face a slowing economy, job uncertainty and other social pressures. Photo: IC
Beijing has urged young people to plan early for retirement, but young Chinese face a slowing economy, job uncertainty and other social pressures. Photo: IC
China's population

Can birth subsidies save China from its looming population crisis?

China is betting big on birth subsidies to stave off a demographic crisis. But do cash payments really work?

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Two Sessions 2025

Is free preschool education the solution to China’s birth crisis?

The policy idea appears to be gaining momentum in China, with a proposal set to be made at this week’s ‘two sessions’.

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Trending in China

Mourning Barbie Hsu, proposal in China gone wrong: 5 trending stories

From netizens mourning Barbie Hsu to a proposal that nearly went awry, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Chinese netizens are using DeepSeek to emulate Taiwanese actress Barbara Hsu’s style in farewell letters to pay tribute to her memory. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo
Wellness

China’s rural healthcare challenge: spend more or move people to cities

With doctors and medical students avoiding China’s rural hospitals because of low pay, villagers don’t receive adequate healthcare.

Patients in a hospital in Duan Yao, in Guangxi, China. Rural healthcare is falling behind as the authorities in Beiing focus on urbanisation. Photo: Reuters
Patients in a hospital in Duan Yao, in Guangxi, China. Rural healthcare is falling behind as the authorities in Beiing focus on urbanisation. Photo: Reuters
China society

Video | Dangerous weight loss camps on the rise in China as country grapples with obesity crisis

Health experts call for more industry regulation as weight loss camps boom in China.

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Trending in China

China teacher panned for quiz ranking family status from ‘indecent’ to ‘good’

Social standing questionnaire for secondary school students posed by intern educator sparks mainland social media storm.

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Trending in China

Boy in China gives own lunches to mum, eats leftovers, prompting food donations

Son collects leftover food from classmates, saying he only needs water for lunch.

The boy selflessly offers his school lunch to his mother every day, watching her enjoy the meal from the other side of the gate. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
The boy selflessly offers his school lunch to his mother every day, watching her enjoy the meal from the other side of the gate. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
China society

Video | Puppy love: why pet weddings are on the rise in China

Driven by the popularity of owning furry friends and a growing willingness to splurge on them, pet weddings are on the rise in China.

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Trending in China

Struggling China couple add quadruplets to 2 kids criticised for donation plea

The poorly paid Chinese parents of newborn quadruplets, who already have two children, faced criticism for asking the public for help with their medical bills and living expenses.

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Trending in China

Why some China schools require pupils to return empty milk boxes for their welfare

A request by primary schools in China that pupils hand back their empty milk cartons has led to the creation of a thriving second-hand market in the containers.

A thriving second-hand market in empty milk cartons has emerged in China after some schools asked their pupils to return the containers. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/The Paper
Trending in China

China scavenger boy with kidney disease cares for sick uncle, breaks hearts online

A 13-year-old boy in China who has led a life of tragedy has caught the attention of online observers who want to help him, thanks to a chance encounter with a social media influencer.

A 13-year-old boy in China who suffers from kidney disease and has to scavenge to feed himself and look after his sick uncle has broken hearts on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
A 13-year-old boy in China who suffers from kidney disease and has to scavenge to feed himself and look after his sick uncle has broken hearts on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Trending in China

Generosity of customer at China noodle shop wins online plaudits

A young Chinese construction worker had a special reason for leaving extra money when he paid his bill in a restaurant – he was inspired by the eatery’s owner.

China property

As localities change their rules, is the end of China’s hukou system in sight?

As China’s local governments test changes to their household registration systems to entice homebuyers, some analysts have suggested this presages a national-level policy change.

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Trending in China

China hospital charges patient 70 US cents for seat used during treatment

A hospital patient in China who sat down to receive intravenous treatment and was hit with a fee for the chair he used has sparked controversy.

A hospital in China that charged a patient 70 US cents for sitting on a chair has sparked outrage. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin
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