Your current location:HOME >world >Push for more parental care leave gathers pace 正文
TIME:2024-05-07 16:31:08 Source: Internet compilationEdit:world
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.
How Miami became a sporting powerhouse: Lionel Messi, David Beckham and Tyreek Hill call it home, A2024-05-07 15:28
Deion Sanders' sons Shilo and Shedeur take on some recruiting duties for Colorado2024-05-07 15:25
Two shootings, two different responses — Maine restricts guns while Iowa arms teachers2024-05-07 15:01
Carlos Carrasco pitches solid into the 6th inning, Guardians edge Red Sox 52024-05-07 15:01
2 killed when a small plane headed to South Carolina crashes in Virginia, police say2024-05-07 14:29
Buccaneers eager to use the NFL draft to narrow the gap between themselves and other top teams2024-05-07 14:06
Alabama court authorizes executing a man convicted of killing a delivery driver2024-05-07 14:04
China completes construction of record2024-05-07 13:53
Turkey says it has carried out new airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq2024-05-07 13:52
Nevada Supreme Court rulings hand setbacks to gun2024-05-07 13:46
No, France did not deploy troops to fight with Ukraine against Russia2024-05-07 16:28
Google fires 28 employees after protest against cloud contract with Israel2024-05-07 16:17
Officer fatally shoots man who confronted him with knife, authorities say2024-05-07 15:50
Alleged homicide suspect fatally shot by police in San Francisco Bay Area2024-05-07 15:34
Robinhood Markets receives SEC notice for alleged securities violations at crypto unit2024-05-07 15:34
Scheffler wiped out from Masters and opens with a 69 at Hilton Head. He trails Poston by 6 shots2024-05-07 15:15
Proposal would assure schools that cooperate fully in NCAA investigations avoid postseason ban2024-05-07 15:02
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán suspended for 11 games, fined for pointing laser at rival in Liga MX match2024-05-07 14:54
Fraternity removes member for ‘racist actions’ at Ole Miss2024-05-07 14:26
Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard enters NBA draft2024-05-07 14:10