What’s new: Shanghai lawmakers have approved a decision to extend the additional maternity leave for women giving birth to their first child to two months from one month, meaning local mothers can now enjoy a break of up to 158 days.
The decision to amend the city’s population and family planning regulations was passed by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress on Thursday. It took effect the same day.
Yan Rui, director of the law commission under Shanghai’s standing committee, was quoted by local media as saying that the amendment was made in response to the revised national population law passed in August to boost births.
The amendment also allows local married couples who give birth to a child (link in Chinese) to enjoy five days of childcare leave each year each till their child reaches the age of three, according to a statement.
The statement said female employees are entitled to 98 days of maternity leave based on related laws, which means that with the additional 60 days, they can now enjoy a break of 158 days.
The background: The move came days after figures showed China’s birth rate had dropped to its lowest point in more than four decades. The country is grappling with a low fertility rate, which was revealed in the seventh national census, forcing the government to launch a three-child policy and various supportive measures to encourage births.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com)
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