Local Governments Announce Extended Marriage Leave
Marriage Leave Increased to 20?30 Days in Several Provinces
Policy Aims to Address Low Birth Rate and Aging Population
In China, where the trend of avoiding marriage and childbirth is intensifying, local governments are introducing policies to significantly extend marriage leave to between 20 and 30 days.
According to China Daily and other state-run media on June 11, an increasing number of local governments in China are extending the nationally guaranteed three-day marriage leave by up to ten times as one of the measures to address the country's low birth rate.
For example, Sichuan Province in the south recently announced a plan to extend marriage leave from the current three days to 20 days, with an additional five days granted if couples undergo a premarital health checkup. Gansu Province and Shaanxi Province have decided to provide 30 days of marriage leave. Henan Province, Heilongjiang Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are granting marriage leave of more than 20 days.
Additionally, Shandong Province in the east extended its marriage leave from three days to a maximum of 18 days in January of this year. In this way, it is understood that more than 27 provincial-level regions are either extending marriage leave or planning to do so.
In China, the number of marriage registrations last year fell by more than 20% compared to the previous year, dropping to the lowest level in 44 years. According to statistics recently released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 6,106,000 couples registered their marriages nationwide last year, which is the lowest figure since relevant statistics began to be compiled following the revision of the Marriage Law in 1980.
The Chinese government is implementing various birth support measures to address the problems of low birth rates and an aging population. The government is also introducing a variety of policies, such as urging universities to offer courses related to dating and marriage. However, the fundamental issues?such as the declining population of people of childbearing age and young people’s reluctance to marry and have children?remain unchanged, leaving the government struggling to find effective solutions.
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