In big cities, raising a child is like shouldering a "huge" expense for families with modest incomes...
A hundred worries
Children learning to talk, laughter in a small house... are the happy images that many young couples dream of. However, behind those dreams are countless worries, revolving around financial matters.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon for young couples who love children very much to hesitate, delay having children, or even give up the idea because of too much financial pressure.
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| The dream of a happy family, the cheerful voices of children, is weighed down by the myriad worries of life (Illustration photo) |
Rising living costs, unfavorable jobs, and uncertainty about the future… Especially in big cities, raising a small child requires “huge” expenses for couples with average and low incomes. Tuition fees, vaccination fees, hospital fees, and daily living expenses… all of these add up to create a difficult problem that not everyone can solve.
They worry that if they have children, will they have enough conditions to give their children a good life? Will their children be at a disadvantage compared to their peers? That insecurity unintentionally becomes a barrier that causes many people to choose not to have children or to have only one child to invest more in the future.
In fact, the rate of fertility decline in Vietnam is accelerating, especially in recent years. In 2023, the total fertility rate in our country is 1.96 children/woman, decreasing further to 1.91 children/woman in 2024, while in 2009 - 2022 it remained relatively stable around the replacement level.
In a broader sense, this concern is not limited to Vietnam but is also a common reality in many other countries. The sharp decline in birth rates is becoming a difficult problem, even reaching a serious warning threshold in some places regarding population, typically Japan and South Korea. In addition to the impact of economic instability, differences in population policies of each country also contribute to negative reactions.
In addition, modern women today increasingly see family responsibilities as a barrier to their careers. They participate more in the labor market, pursue education, hone their skills and constantly develop themselves. This trend has led to a wave of late marriage and late childbearing.
More solutions needed
To improve this situation, the implementation of special support measures is extremely necessary. First of all, it is necessary to promote awareness raising and reproductive health screening programs. At the same time, it is necessary to increase communication about the benefits of early marriage and childbearing, especially the positive impacts on the health of mothers and children.
On the other hand, financial support must go hand in hand with long-term solutions. In addition to cash subsidies, there should be policies to reduce tax and support living expenses, especially in the early years of a child’s life. At the same time, implementing preferential loan packages will help young families reduce the financial burden of starting a family and having children.
More importantly, it is necessary to develop social services to support families, such as investing in social housing systems for young couples, expanding the public childcare system and reducing service costs.
At the same time, businesses also need to get involved, creating conditions for employees with families through friendly policies such as flexible working hours, parental leave or childcare areas right at the workplace.
| In short, to make young people feel secure in having children, it is not only necessary to appeal but more importantly to build a truly favorable living environment. When the economy is stable and there are enough practical support policies, young couples can confidently embark on the journey of parenthood. |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/ap-luc-cuoc-song-ganh-nang-ao-com-niu-buoc-uoc-mo-con-tre-377754.html
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