Your current location:HOME >opinions >Push for more parental care leave gathers pace 正文
TIME:2024-05-08 05:04:30 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
By Wang Xiaoyu (China Daily) 15:56, March 13, 2024Zhang Da found his parents were less involved in f
Zhang Da found his parents were less involved in familial and social gatherings and talked slowly when he returned home from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, to spend the Spring Festival holiday with them in mid-January.
"It just hit me that my parents were getting old, and I felt a stronger sense of responsibility and an intense feeling that I needed to accompany them more often," the 28-year-old said. "My father also fell sick last year and now needs me to take care of him."
However, like a number of regions in China, Shaanxi only grants paid parental care leave to employees from one-child families. "I have siblings so my employer would not easily allow me to take time off work," he said.
The dilemma confronting Zhang is starting to receive increasing attention from authorities as China strives to meet the demand for senior care in a rapidly aging society.
China had about 297 million people aged 60 and older — 21.1 percent of its population — by the end of last year. The elderly population is forecast to reach 400 million, and exceed 30 percent of the total, by around 2035, according to official estimates.
In response to a netizen's online suggestion, the health commission in Zhejiang province said late last month that when it revises local population and family planning regulations it will consider extending parental care leave to workers who are not the only child in their families.
The online suggestion said that being filial to parents and accompanying them is a basic moral principle and policies should not differ on the basis of the number of children in a family.
The provincial health commission acknowledged the necessity of expanding eligibility for such leave.
"We also encourage employers to offer care leave for workers whose elderly parents are hospitalized or cannot live by themselves due to illness," it said.
In reply to a similar online request, the civil affairs bureau in Beijing said in late January that setting up parental care leave is imperative.
"With the deepening aging trend in the city, elderly care has become a difficult problem for all and should be emphasized and dealt with proactively," it said.
"Granting parental care leave is one active measure to tackle the aging trend. Currently, there is no national law or regulation related to it but we see it as an imperative task based on practical demands."
Nationwide, several regions allow paid parental leave for workers with siblings.
In Tianjin, people from a one-child family are entitled to 20 days of paid parental care leave a year and those who are not an only child are given 10 days.
The province of Guizhou grants seven days' paid leave for employees with siblings, compared with 15 days for those who are the sole child.
One concern of local authorities is that such leave has an impact on labor costs.
Health authorities in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region said previously that the establishment of any paid leave should take into consideration the rights of workers and the labor costs of employers.
Feng Wenmeng, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, told People's Daily that honors could be bestowed on businesses that provide parental care leave.
Local governments could also consider giving tax deductions to employers who implement parental care leave, he said.
China's software industry logs steady growth in Q12024-05-08 04:45
The push for school choice in Nebraska is pitting lawmakers against their constituents2024-05-08 04:32
Atlantic City mayor and his wife are charged with abusing their 162024-05-08 03:37
It hasn't taken Jude Bellingham long to realize how big a problem racism is in Spanish soccer2024-05-08 03:31
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities2024-05-08 03:27
Trump says New York judge won’t let him attend son’s graduation, no ruling has been made2024-05-08 03:18
Lottery, gambling bill heads to Alabama legislative conference committee for negotiations2024-05-08 03:00
Liz Truss accuses government of 'finger2024-05-08 02:53
Strictly's Katya Jones, 34, shares fears over her 'maternal clock' amid busy dance schedule2024-05-08 02:52
Rise of the middle2024-05-08 02:17
Atalanta comes from behind to beat Salernitana and improve Champions League chances2024-05-08 04:51
Kentucky ballot measure should resolve school2024-05-08 04:16
Bank of America accused of religious and political 'discrimination' by 'de2024-05-08 04:00
The Sky added plenty of star power in the WNBA draft with Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese2024-05-08 03:59
Zendaya wows in a glamorous vintage backless dress as she attends Anna Wintour's star2024-05-08 03:49
Dr. Martens stock plunges after dour US revenue outlook2024-05-08 03:17
Ludvig Aberg backs up the hype, finishes 2nd at the Masters in his first major2024-05-08 03:12
Jack Leiter, son of Al, to make major league debut for Rangers on Thursday against Tigers2024-05-08 02:56
Suspect in custody after video recorded him appearing to steal a police vehicle amid gunfire2024-05-08 02:29
Jack Leiter, son of Al, to make major league debut for Rangers on Thursday against Tigers2024-05-08 02:20