China faces a serious problem of declining birth rates and has been continuously introducing childcare subsidy policies. However, the financial situation of some local governments is also pressing. Multiple provinces have made it clear to strictly control the introduction of additional childcare subsidy policies or raising the standards in areas with weaker financial capabilities.
According to The Paper, on November 27, the Jilin Provincial Government published on its official website that the 'Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System of Jilin Province' has been approved by the provincial government, filed with the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Finance, and is hereby issued.
The implementation plan requires that if city (prefecture)-level government departments intend to introduce other childcare subsidy policies or raise the subsidy standards, they must strengthen preliminary assessment and evaluation, and, in accordance with relevant requirements for the filing of livelihood policies, report to the next higher-level authorities through the health and finance departments for filing; for areas with weak financial capability, inadequate grassroots 'three guarantees' (basic public services), or high local government debt risks intending to introduce other childcare subsidy policies or raise the standards, such moves must be strictly controlled.
The plan also specifies that county-level and lower governments are not allowed to independently introduce childcare subsidy policies or standards. If existing city-level policies are issued on a monthly or annual basis and the subsidy standard exceeds the national basic standard, the original standard may continue, but cannot be combined with the national childcare subsidy policy. If it is lower than the national basic standard, the national standard must be implemented.
Recently published childcare subsidy implementation plans show that several provinces have requested strict control over introducing other childcare subsidy policies or raising standards in areas with weak financial capability.
The 'Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System of Hubei Province' issued on November 14, mentions that the province shall in principle implement a unified childcare subsidy policy and basic standards. Policies should be coordinated, and according to the principle of 'adopting the higher standard but not the lower', subsidy funds at all levels are generally not to be enjoyed cumulatively. For areas where a childcare subsidy policy has already been formulated, any part of the subsidy standard exceeding the national basic standard shall be borne by the local finances; for areas that have not formulated local policies or whose subsidy standard is lower than the national basic standard, payments shall temporarily be made according to the national standard.
Hubei explicitly states that city (prefecture)-level governments proposing other childcare subsidy policies or raising standards must enhance preliminary assessment and evaluation, and, in accordance with relevant requirements for the filing of livelihood policies, report to the provincial health and finance departments for approval before implementation. Regarding areas with weak financial capability, inadequate 'three guarantees', or high government debt risk that plan to introduce additional childcare subsidy policies or raise standards, strict control is required. County-level and lower governments are not allowed to independently introduce new childcare subsidy policies or standards.
The 'Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System of Guangdong Province' also states that the province shall in principle implement a unified childcare subsidy policy and standard, and county-level and lower governments are not allowed to independently introduce childcare subsidy policies or standards. If the governments of prefecture-level or higher cities intend to introduce other childcare subsidy policies or raise standards, they should strengthen prior assessment and evaluation and file with the relevant provincial authority as required; for areas with weak financial capability, inadequate grassroots 'three guarantees', or high local government debt risk, strict control is required.
In addition, the 'Implementation Details for Beijing’s Childcare Subsidy System (Trial)' require that the city implements a unified childcare subsidy policy and standard, and that health and finance departments in each district are not allowed to independently introduce other forms of childcare subsidy policies or raise standards. Chongqing also states that the whole city implements a unified childcare subsidy policy and standard.