China News Agency, Beijing, August 17 (Ma Shuisha) Hao Fuqing, deputy director of the Social Development Department of China's National Development and Reform Commission and a first-level inspector, said in Beijing on the 17th that domestic surveys show that unattended infants and young children hinder fertility The primary factor is that about 1/3 of the households in the city have childcare needs, but in reality the supply is relatively insufficient, especially the supply of inclusive services has shortcomings.
On the 16th, 17 departments including China's National Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Improving and Implementing Active Maternity Support Measures" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), proposing to improve the maternity leave policy and accelerate the development of guarantees. Measures such as sex rental housing and housing policies favouring families with many children.
On the 17th, the National Health Commission held a press conference on the "Opinions".
Hao Fuqing said at the meeting that various studies and international experience have shown that the development of childcare services has a significant effect on reducing the burden on families and increasing their willingness to bear children.
In order to support the development of childcare services, the "Opinions" focus on five key words: "basic, inclusive, investment, charging, and burden reduction".
He said that "basic" refers to strengthening basic public services, expanding the functions of community childcare services, and improving basic public service facilities such as infant care; "inclusive" refers to increasing inclusive services, encouraging multi-party participation, and effectively expanding inclusive benefits. Provide childcare services; at the same time, increase investment support, through the support and guidance of central investment, drive local governments and social forces to increase investment, and jointly strengthen the capacity building of the childcare service industry.
He pointed out that, in addition, it is necessary to standardize various service charges, reasonably determine the price of childcare services, and reduce the operating burden of institutions. All localities should introduce a package of policies to support the development of childcare institutions, and establish childcare institutions in some special periods to close down in emergency situations. Disposal mechanism, implementation of relief policies during the epidemic, etc.
Du Xixue, ombudsman of the Population and Family Department of the National Health and Health Commission, said at the meeting that China's modern daycare service system started from scratch and started late. Although some progress has been made in the past two years, the number of childcare services per 1,000 population is 2.03 by the end of 2021. , but there is still a big gap to reach the goal of 4.5 at the end of the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
"The "Opinions" further clarified specific measures in terms of reducing the operating costs of childcare institutions and improving the quality of childcare services. Around the established goals, all localities and relevant departments will make efforts in the same direction to jointly accelerate the pace of building the childcare service system, so as to provide Make due efforts to implement active fertility support measures." Du Xi said.
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