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

Jimu News:

We have noticed that the ACFTU has provided subsidies for the past three years to family-friendly employers that offer childcare services. What role has the trade union played in building the birth support policy system? And what has been the outcome? Thank you.

Liu Hongmei:

Thank you for your questions. The ACFTU has resolutely implemented the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and always adhered to the worker-centered approach, actively participating in the development of a birth support policy system.

First, we have strengthened the protection system for safeguarding female employees' maternity-related rights and interests. This year, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) conducted a compliance inspection on the implementation of the Trade Union Law, which included the protection of female employees' rights and interests in areas such as employment, rest and leave, and workplace health and safety. In 2021, the ACFTU participated in a special law enforcement campaign on protecting female employees' rights, which was led by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) in collaboration with the NHC and the NHSA. The campaign focused on inspecting 86,000 employers across the country to assess their protection of female workers' rights, including maternity leave. At the same time, the ACFTU enhanced its involvement in the policymaking process. To date, several provinces and autonomous regions in China have enacted local legislation on the labor protection of female workers, including more detailed provisions on maternity leave and protection during the "four phases" (menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding). In recent years, an extensive legal awareness campaign under the theme “Caring for Women Workers — The Law Is by Your Side” has been carried out across the country, with a focus on promoting equal employment and maternity protection. More than 20 million people have participated in the campaign.

Second, efforts have been made to address the challenges of childcare and support employers in providing childcare services and cultivating relevant talent. From 2022 to 2024, the ACFTU, in collaboration with the NHC, organized the nationwide selection of caring employers providing childcare services for three consecutive years, allocating a total of 22.5 million yuan in subsidies to 300 selected employers. This year, the ACFTU made special arrangements to further promote employer-provided childcare services, adopting a targeted and localized approach. It has strongly supported qualified employers, including government agencies, public institutions, state-owned enterprises and industrial parks, in setting up childcare facilities. In terms of funding support, it was clarified that the necessary expenditures for offering affordable childcare services to the children of employees may be covered by staff welfare funds in accordance with relevant regulations, and trade union funds of the employers may also be used as supplementary support. In terms of the development of childcare services talent, in 2024, the ACFTU, together with the NHC, the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF), and other relevant organizations, held a vocational skills competition for childcare services. The 2025 National Vocational Skills Competition for Employee Childcare Services will be held in late October to help improve professional skills and service standards across the sector.

Third, we have created a supportive environment by building family-friendly workplaces. The ACFTU, in conjunction with the MOHRSS, the NHC and three other departments, is promoting the implementation of "six friendly standards" for employers. These standards include supportive attitudes, career development, maternity protection, child care support, work arrangements and occupational health. The initiative has released 100 model cases of family-friendly workplaces. At the same time, we encourage trade unions at all levels to provide child care services for employees, organize employee social networking activities, establish rest and nursing rooms for female employees, and advance the development of family-friendly workplaces.

Next, the ACFTU will strengthen cooperation with the NHC and other relevant departments to continue promoting employer-provided child care services and the protection of female employees' rights and interests. The federation will also expand service coverage, improve service quality, and support the development of policies to boost the birth rate. Thank you.