Liaoning policies encourage couples to have more children

The government of Liaoning province is considering policies to relieve the financial burdens of couples who have had a second child. The policies are designed to encourage births and thereby help overcome China's major demographic challenges - aging and a dwindling workforce.

The provincial government said it will help families who have chosen to give birth by providing benefits in taxes, education, social security and housing. It will also explore other policies to ease the daily burden of raising children, it said in a guideline released last week.

Other steps will be taken to encourage more couples to have a second child, including providing longer maternity leaves and encouraging employers to allow flexible work hours for pregnant women and nursing mothers, the guideline said.