Amidst a continuous decline in national reproductive indices, the Ministry of Health is developing mechanisms for direct financial aid and expanded maternity benefits. This represents a strategic effort to maintain the future labor force and stabilize demographic structures.
Financial incentives for childbirth
The draft decree suggests a payment of 2 million VND per birth. Priority groups include women from very small ethnic minority groups, residents in low-fertility regions, and women who complete having two children before the age of 35. Local budgets will fund these payments, with provincial authorities granted the autonomy to increase the support based on their specific economic capacity.
Expanded maternity and paternity leave
A notable update is the proposal to increase leave duration for the second child:
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Female employees: Entitled to 07 months of leave.
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Male employees: Entitled to 10 working days off when their wives give birth. The reimbursement process is designed to be streamlined, allowing citizens to apply through various channels (in-person or online) and receive payments within a maximum of six months postpartum.
Investing in preventive medicine and population quality
In addition to encouraging quantity, the proposal emphasizes screening for congenital diseases. Total financial support for these services reaches 1.5 million VND (comprising 900,000 VND for prenatal screening and 600,000 VND for newborn screening). The program focuses on common conditions such as Down syndrome, Thalassemia, and congenital heart or hearing defects.