The document issued on Tuesday explains in detail the specific measures to carry out the policy decision of the central authorities on May 31 to allow all couples to have a third child, as the country faces the continuous challenges of a graying society and a decreasing birthrate.
The document said financial burdens, a shortfall in the provision of day care services and women's career concerns were among the major factors that have reduced couples' willingness to have more children.
The document asked local governments to simplify the handling of matters such as the issuing of birth certificates, vaccinations for newborn babies and applications for social security cards.
Broader support will also be rolled out in a wide range of sectors to improve the provision of day care services, the document said, adding that kindergartens will be encouraged to admit children younger than 3,the lower limit under the current admission policies. The document suggests couples with younger children will have access to tax reductions, subsidized（补助）housing and breastfeeding leave. Inspections will also be made to ensure pregnancy and childbirth do not endanger women's career opportunities.
The document noted that China will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of families with only one child. Efforts will also be made to explore setting up an improved leave system for offspring from one-child families to care for their parents.
As the authorities are still changing and improving rules to adapt to the new third-child policy many couples have found themselves in limbo. Under China's family planning rules, couples usually need to get official documents to expand their families.
To address this, the authorities in some parts of China, including the Tibet autonomous region and Anhui province, have allowed couples to go ahead with their plans to have more children, and they will be able to apply for the official documents once the new rules are in place.
