One, two three: China’s Heilongjiang province to allow some couples to have a third child
Move seeks to address greying population and shrinking labour force
China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province has gone one step further than the country’s two-child policy by allowing qualified couples to have a third child to help counter the province’s ageing population, Heilongjiang authorities announced on Friday.
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In a statement posted on its website, the standing committee of the provincial people’s congress said the new policy was passed on Thursday and allows couples who are overseas returnees or from regions such as Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan to have a third child.
The new policy also applies to couples who live in 18 selected border counties, including Mohe, Tahe and Huma, and those who are members of specific ethnic minorities.
Heilongjiang has been plagued with a greying population and a shrinking labour pool.
China’s two-child policy ‘too little, too late’ demographers warn
The local government has also extended marriage leave for newly-weds to 25 days from the existing 15 days.
