China will take more steps to boost community-based elderly care, childcare and domestic services, including greater policy incentives in taxes and fees, it was decided at the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on May 29. 

 

The Chinese government places great emphasis on developing elderly care, childcare and domestic services. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed in his report to the 19th Party Congress the imperative to improve people’s well-being, address their concerns, strengthen areas of weakness and promote social fairness and justice in the course of pursuing development. The goal is to promote well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all. Premier Li Keqiang stated in this year’s Government Work Report that significant steps must be taken to develop elderly care, especially community-based elderly care services, including support for institutions offering such services as day care and rehabilitation care. The government will also encourage private parties to run childcare and early childhood education agencies, and promote higher quality and an expansion of capacity in the domestic services sector.

 

“Elderly care, childcare and housekeeping services are crucial to improving people’s well-being, addressing the aging of the population and boosting employment. There is huge demand in this regard. The inadequacy of childcare service, in particular, has become a bottleneck issue with the implementation of the two-child policy,” Premier Li said. “Faster development of such services can serve multiple purposes, including boosting consumption, promoting a better division of labor and facilitating economic transformation.”