China's Sichuan Province , Lifts All Birth Restrictions.
'The Guardian' reports that a province in China with
over 80 million people will lift all birth restrictions as part
of a national drive to increase the country's birth rate.
On January 30, the health commission of Sichuan
announced that it would lift restrictions
on unmarried people having children.
The commission said it would also
lift the cap on the number of births
and registrations for any parent.
'The Guardian' reports that
the new measures will be
in place for the next five years.
The news comes as China has been introducing
a growing list of measures and legislative changes
aimed at encouraging people to have children.
In 2022, China's population fell
for the first time in sixty years. .
The shift from China's punitive one-child policy comes
as the number of aging people on state welfare
grows while the number of work-age people shrinks. .
The strict one-child policy included
financial penalties and forced abortions
until it was brought to an end in 2016.
'The Guardian' reports that many young
people in China have rejected the idea
of marriage and childbirth.
Young people often cite the high cost of living, reduced social mobility, career pressures and the expectations placed on women in Chinese society.
Young people often cite the high cost of living, reduced social mobility, career pressures and the expectations placed on women in Chinese society