Mr. Thinh (36 years old) and his wife, Ms. An (33 years old), living in Thu Duc City (HCMC), are happy because their family has "both boys and girls" - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
Ho Chi Minh City is facing a big challenge: Aging population, low birth rate and high population density.
Want to have more children but too many barriers
According to experts and managers of population and development work, the reasons for the low birth rate in Ho Chi Minh City can be divided into two categories: not wanting to have more children and wanting to have more children but not daring to have more children.
For the group that doesn't want to, work pressure and modern lifestyle concepts are the two biggest barriers.
More than 83% of workers in Ho Chi Minh City work more than 40 hours per week, higher than the national average of 72% (according to the General Statistics Office).
With a busy lifestyle, young people often prioritize career development and enjoying personal life over spending time taking care of their children.
Meanwhile, the group that "want but don't dare" is burdened by economic burdens.
The cost of maintaining a minimum living standard for a family with two children is VND12 million/month (according to the Living Wage Alliance), while the average income of city workers is VND9.1 million/month.
This makes many couples not dare to have more children.
In addition, cramped living space and overloaded infrastructure also reduce the appeal of giving birth in Ho Chi Minh City.
With the highest population density in the country of nearly 4,500 people/km², the city's transport, housing, education and health infrastructure is under great pressure.
Each square kilometer in the city has only 2.26 kilometers of roads, one-fifth of the standard. The average housing area per capita in the city is less than 22 square meters, 5 square meters lower than the national average.
Meanwhile, the average primary school class size is 39.4 students/class, among the highest in the country.
Ho Chi Minh City has been the top destination for migrants nationwide for many years. However, the lack of access to housing and the lack of family nearby have made many migrants reluctant to have children.
According to the 2019 population census results of the General Statistics Office, migrant women gave birth to 1.54 children on average, while the group that did not have to change their place of residence gave birth to 2.13 children.
More drastic with population policy
The city is proposing a support level of 3 million VND for each woman who gives birth to two children before the age of 35, along with a support level of 2 million VND for women living in two island communes and women from poor and near-poor households during pregnancy and childbirth.
This is a step forward in the city's efforts to promote births. However, whether this one-time support is attractive enough and effective remains to be seen.
Lessons from developed countries such as South Korea and Japan show that financial support alone is not enough to reverse the trend of declining fertility.
Instead, the policy needs to be comprehensive, from pregnancy, childbirth, to child care and education.
Financial support for families with three or more children is one important solution. This includes monthly subsidies or a special allowance for families with three or more children.
Housing support should also be emphasized. For example, preferential housing rental/purchase credit policies can be applied to families based on the number of children.
However, with the current high price of real estate, if applied, this policy also has the downside of causing inequality for single people or those without children for objective reasons.
Another solution is to adjust the budget allocation ratio left for Ho Chi Minh City to help the city have more resources to invest in birth promotion programs as well as invest in transport infrastructure, housing, healthcare and education.
Thereby reducing pressure on families and creating a more favorable living environment.
In addition, policies on reduced working hours, remote working, or childcare support are needed to help couples develop their careers and care for their children at the same time.
These changes cannot be based solely on the state budget, but require the cooperation of the community, businesses and social organizations. It is time for Ho Chi Minh City to be more decisive in facing the population problem.
Only by creating a better living environment, ensuring development opportunities for both parents and children, can we hope for a livable and sustainable city in the future.
In addition to cash rewards, hospital fees are also supported.
According to the latest regulations, from January 1, 2025, women residing in Dong Nai who give birth to 2 children before the age of 35 will receive a one-time support of 1 million VND.
In addition, pregnant women and newborns from poor households, near-poor households, social protection beneficiaries, and people living in ethnic minority areas are exempted from prenatal screening (prenatal screening) and newborn screening (newborn screening) at public health facilities in the province.
More than 7,400 adolescents and young adults received pre-marital health consultation and examination, an increase of 10% compared to 2023. More than 23,400 pregnant women were screened before birth. In addition, more than 28,300 children were screened at birth, accounting for 87% of the total number of children born...
Meanwhile, from 2022, Hau Giang province will start implementing the two-child model, thanks to which the birth rate of Hau Giang province is gradually improving. In 2024, the average birth rate will reach 1.79 children/woman, an increase of 0.17 children/woman compared to 2023.
Hau Giang province has rewarded women who give birth to two children before the age of 35 with a total amount of nearly 1.2 billion VND. In addition, women who give birth to two children are also supported with prenatal screening, hospital fees, etc. with a total amount of nearly 3 billion VND.
A LOC - LE DAN
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