A county in western China will give home purchase subsidies to couples to have children, the latest push to encourage more births in a country where the population is set to decline in coming years.
Linze County, with a population of over 150,000, will offer 40,000 yuan in subsidy for permanent households who have a second or third child when they buy houses in the county area, and 30,000-yuan subsidy for those who opt to buy houses in townships and villages, Gansu Daily reported.
The county has been generous in giving out cash incentives.
It offers a one-time birth allowance of 2,000 yuan, 3,000 yuan and 5,000 yuan respectively for the first, second and third child. It gives another yearly child-rearing allowance of 5,000 yuan to local families with two children, and 10,000 yuan for those with three, payable until the children reach 3 years old.
China has adopted a policy that allows couples to have three children, together with a slew of supporting measures. The aim is to optimize the country's demographic structure and achieve long-term and balanced population development.
Beijing authorities said the city will give an extra 30 days of maternity leave to mothers who give birth to a third child after May 31. The fathers are entitled to an additional 15 days of paternity leave.