Shangai: China is considering introducing birth rewards and subsidies to encourage couples to have a second child after surveys showed economic constraints were making many reluctant to expand families.
The potential move was revealed by Wang Peian, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission at a social welfare conference on the weekend, the state-owned China Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Birth rates rose to 17.86 million in 2016, the highest level since 2000, after the country issued new guidelines allowing all parents to have two children amid growing concerns over the costs of supporting an ageing population.
"That fully met the expectations, but barriers still exist and must be addressed," Wang was quoted as saying.
The country expects to boost its birthrate to 1.8 babies per woman by 2021 after announcing it was scrapping its one-child policy in late 2015.
The world's most populous nation began implementing its controversial controversial policy introduced in 1979 to limit population growth was enforced with ruthless campaigns of forced abortions and sterilisations.
"To have a second child is the right of each family in China but affordability has become a bottleneck that undermines the decision."
A poll conducted by the commission in 2015 found 60 per cent of families surveyed were reluctant to have a second baby largely due to financial constraints. The availability and cost of quality childcare is often cited as an obstacle for many middle class parents who want larger families.
China's birth rate, one of the world's lowest, is fast becoming a worry for authorities, rather than the achievement it was considered when the government feared overpopulation.
Its decision to allow all married couples to have two children has also driven a surge in demand for fertility treatment among older women.
Reuters; agencies
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