Questions arise on laws granting time for parental care

As some provinces introduce or draft new regulations to provide leave to the only child of families to take care of ailing parents, doubts have emerged on the fairness of, and ability to implement, such regulations.

In recent weeks, provincial laws have been introduced or are being drafted in several regions nationwide. These require an employer to give at least three days' leave per year to an only child for taking care of sick parents who are older than 60.

On March 1, Fujian province included such a requirement in its Protection Act for Elderly People's Legal Rights. It allows an only child to have a maximum of 10 days, with wages paid, to take care of parents who have been hospitalized.