Ho Chi Minh City has proposed a one-time financial support of 3 million VND for women who have two children before turning 35. Additionally, localities where more than 60% of eligible couples have two children will receive certificates of merit from the Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee.

This policy was presented by the HCMC People’s Committee during the 10th Session of the HCMC People's Council for the 2021-2026 term on the morning of December 9.

According to city officials, HCMC’s total fertility rate in 2023 was 1.32 children per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1. The city is among 21 provinces and municipalities in Vietnam with critically low birth rates.

To combat this, the city proposed awarding certificates of merit from district-level People's Committee chairpersons, along with a financial incentive of 30 million VND for communes that consistently achieve or exceed a 60% rate of eligible couples having two children. Furthermore, communes maintaining this rate for five consecutive years would receive a certificate of merit from the city-level People’s Committee and a 60-million-VND reward.

Women who give birth to two children before the age of 35 will receive a one-time financial assistance of 3 million VND, a figure derived from estimated medical costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

To address gender imbalances at birth, communes where all hamlets implement measures to control gender imbalance will be eligible for district-level certificates of merit and an additional financial reward of 1 million VND.

Additionally, pregnant women and newborns from poor or near-poor households, socially protected groups, and island communities will receive financial support of 2 million VND for prenatal and newborn screenings, along with other benefits.

Under the new proposals, communes achieving universal health insurance coverage for seniors, maintaining regular health monitoring, and conducting periodic health checkups for the elderly will be rewarded. These communes would receive district-level certificates of merit and financial support of 30 million VND.

Population volunteers at the hamlet level who meet or exceed targets for promoting senior healthcare and monitoring elderly health within families and communities will also be recognized with certificates of merit from commune-level People's Committees.

If approved, the policies are projected to cost HCMC’s budget over 198.5 billion VND over the next five years.

Ho Van