City offers subsidies to encourage more births

Parents in Shenzhen who give birth to a third child will be eligible for up to 19,000 yuan (US$2,812) in three years, according to the draft measures recently released to offer childcare subsidies by the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission.

The draft measures are now seeking public opinions.

                           Children in a playground in a shopping mall in Futian District. File photo

According to the proposal, parents that have a first child will be subsidized a total of 7,500 yuan, which will be allocated in three years. Specifically, the subsidies consist of one-time birth allowance of 3,000 yuan and an annual childcare allowance of 1,500 yuan for three years.

Those who give birth to their second child will be given a one-time birth allowance of 5,000 yuan with an annual childcare allowance of 2,000 yuan for three years. The subsidies will total 11,000 yuan.

A parent-child activity in Ganglang Community in Bao'an District. Yang Lin

The subsidies totaling 19,000 yuan for a third child will consist of a one-time birth allowance of 10,000 yuan and an annual childcare allowance of 3,000 yuan until the child is 3 years old.

For a family that will raise more than three children, the subsidies for the fourth child and above will be the same as the third one, and twins and multiple births will be calculated for subsidies as per the number of children, according to the proposal.

Either mother or father with a Shenzhen hukou, or household registration status, can apply for the subsidies for their children. The legal guardian of a child whose parents died can apply for the subsidies.

Applicants should submit applications to the community workstation where their children’s hukou is registered within six months after the hukou registration process is completed, according to the measures.

Moreover, if a remarried couple gives birth to a child, the subsidy amount should be based on the number of children born in the current marriage.

Suggestions can be sent via email to jtfyc@wjw.sz.gov.cn before Feb. 13.