Shenzhen offers subsidies for having children

The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in Guangdong province is soliciting public opinion on new measures to encourage local women of childbearing age to have more children.

Under the proposal, a mother who gives birth to her third child will be eligible for up to 19,000 yuan ($2,815) in three years.

The incentives include a one-time birth allowance of 10,000 yuan and an annual child care allowance of 3,000 yuan until the child is 3 years old.

Mothers who have a second child will also be eligible for a one-time birth subsidy valued at 5,000 yuan and an annual child care allowance of 2,000 yuan for three years. Women who give birth to their first child would receive a one-time birth allowance of 3,000 yuan, plus a three-year annual child care allowance of 1,500 yuan.

Parenting subsidies are set after taking into account the per capita consumption expenditure of Shenzhen residents, infant and child-rearing costs and related factors, under the Shenzhen Health Commission's draft.

The parenting subsidies aims to help increase the city's birth rate.