SCIO briefing on China's child care subsidy system and childbirth support measures

Dingduan News:

Previously, some regions have explored and implemented local child care subsidy policies, with some local standards exceeding the current national baseline. How will these local policies be aligned with national regulations, and will allowances continue to be issued in areas where local standards are higher? Thank you.

Guo Yanhong:

Thank you for your questions. I will answer them. In recent years, some places in the country have explored and implemented childcare subsidy policies based on local conditions, achieving positive results. After the introduction of the national child care subsidy system, efforts should be made to strengthen policy coordination and ensure that local measures are standardized and aligned in an orderly manner. This involves three key principles and considerations:

First, the state establishes the system, and local authorities implement it accordingly. The state has established the child care subsidy system, achieving nationwide coverage, while setting a national basic standard of 3,600 yuan per child per year until the age of three. Localities that previously had no child care subsidy policies, limited subsidy coverage, or subsidy standards below the national level must implement unified policies according to the national subsidy scope and baseline standards to achieve equitable policy coverage and ensure policy fairness.

Second, policy consistency should be ensured, and people's interests should be protected. For child care subsidy policies already implemented, local governments should develop specific transition plans to ensure orderly alignment between local policies and the national system. Throughout this process, people's vital interests must be effectively protected. Localities with subsidy standards that exceed the national baseline may continue their current programs after completing the required evaluation and registration procedures.

Third, we will strengthen policy coordination and enhance sustainability. The implementation plan clearly states that all provinces shall implement unified child care subsidy policies and standards at the prefecture level. In provinces with minor regional differences, a single, policy and standard can be applied across the entire province. This means that child care subsidy policies must be coordinated at least at the prefecture level. Raising the level of policy coordination helps avoid policy fragmentation and effectively enhances policy stability and sustainability.

At the same time, we must recognize that supporting childbirth is a systematic undertaking that encompasses a comprehensive package of policy measures, including financial, service, time and cultural support. Localities can implement various measures based on their actual conditions, working in concert with the child care subsidy system to form a comprehensive family support policy package. This will better alleviate the burden of childbearing, child-rearing and education on families. Thank you.

Zhou Jianshe:

One last question, please.