Cross-border shelling has killed at least 70 civilians, including children, rescue workers and journalists
world1 day ago
HONG KONG, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Some Chinese provinces are giving young newlyweds 30 days of paid leave in the hope of encouraging marriage and boosting a flagging birth rate, the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily Health said on Tuesday.
China's minimum paid marriage leave is three days, but provinces have been able to set their own more generous allowances since February.
The northwestern province of Gansu and the coal-producing province of Shanxi now give 30 days, while Shanghai gives 10 and Sichuan still only three, according to the People's Daily Health.
"Extending marriage leave is one of the effective ways of increasing the fertility rate," Yang Haiyang, dean of the Social Development Research Institute of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, was quoted as saying.
"The extension of marriage leave is mainly in some provinces and cities with relatively slow economic development," he said, adding that there was an urgent need to both expand the labour force and stimulate consumption.
Yang said a host of other supporting policies were still needed, including housing subsidies and paid paternity leave for men.
China's population fell last year for the first time in six decades, according to official data - a turning-point that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline.
Last year, China recorded its lowest ever birth rate, of 6.77 births per 1,000 people.
Much of the downturn is the result of a "one child" policy imposed between 1980 and 2015, and a surge in education costs that has put many Chinese off having more than one child, or even having any at all.
Cross-border shelling has killed at least 70 civilians, including children, rescue workers and journalists
world1 day ago
Northeastern University in Boston says the action was taken after some protesters resorted to virulent anti-Semitic slurs
world1 day ago
Alongside regional leaders, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the meetings
world1 day ago
The Argentinian's beauty got many looking for the 'fountain of youth': She can't be that old, Netizens say
world2 days ago
A plea moved in court stated that no one is permitted to wear the official state institution outfit
world3 days ago
The ruins in the middle of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province are a tourist draw, even as the region swelters in extreme heat
world3 days ago
Friday's polling will be held for 88 of the total 543 seats in the lower house or Lok Sabha of Parliament with 160 million people eligible to vote
world3 days ago
Kerala will decide the fate of 194 candidates as polling on all 20 parliamentary constituencies will be held in the second phase
world3 days ago