Abandoning Traditions: Vietnam Ditches Two-Child Policy to Bolster Birth Rates and Workforce
Decline in Vietnam's Birth Rate: Government Annuls Two-Child Policy (Revoked)
Get ready, folks! The communist government of Vietnam has bid adieu to its long-standing two-child policy. This shift aims to spur a baby boom and counter the falling birth rate in the country, according to state media reports. The policy, first implemented in 1988, limited families to only two kids. Now, the national news agency announced that the decision about family size will be left to each individual couple.
The birth rate in Vietnam has seen a steep decline in the past three years. Last year, the rate stood at 1.91 children per woman, dipping below the level needed to keep the population stable, as announced by the health ministry this year. The birth rate plummeted from 2.11 in 2021 to 2.01 in 2022 and dropped further to 1.96 in 2023. This concerning trend is most apparent in economically prosperous regions, particularly major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where rising costs of living are becoming a burden.
Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong mentioned at a conference earlier this year that enticing families to produce more offspring has become increasingly challenging, despite recent political modifications and public campaigns. The dwindling birth rate poses a substantial challenge to long-term socio-economic growth, due to an aging population and labor shortages.
Moreover, Vietnam faces an imbalance in gender ratios, stemming from a historical preference for boys in Vietnamese society. To prevent gender imbalance, it's prohibited to inform parents of their child's gender before birth, and sex-selective abortions are illegal. Clinics violating this law are subject to heavy fines, with the health ministry recently suggesting tripling the current fine to $3,800 (€3,340).
[1] ntv.de[2] AFP[3] Center for Population and Development Studies, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities[4] World Health Organization
- To combat a falling birth rate and labor shortages, Vietnam has revised its long-standing employment policy, allowing couples to decide their family size without limitation.
- In light of the shift from a two-child policy, many predict a baby boom and spurred workforce growth in Vietnam, as stated by state media reports.
- Science and therapies and treatments hold the potential to address issues relating to family health, mental health, and sexual health, among other health and wellness concerns, as key areas of investigation.
- The employment policy revisions are expected to provide opportunities for professionals in fields such as nutrition, fitness and exercise, and medicare, to contribute to the betterment of the community.
- In an effort to maintain a healthier population and improve workforce capabilities, policymakers can implement practices that promote the well-being of women and parents, such as parenting support and women's health initiatives.
- As the focus shifts towards a broader range of health concerns, there is an increased need for ongoing research in disciplines like aging and men's health, to ensure holistic care and targeted interventions.
- To counter the imbalance in gender ratios, Vietnamese authorities have imposed penalties on clinics engaging in sex-selective abortions and are considering raising the fines to $3,800 (€3,340), in an effort to curb the historical preference for male offspring.
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