On the afternoon of 5/1, the Office of the State President held a press conference to announce the State President's orders concerning laws passed by the 15th National Assembly.

Regarding the Population Law, which takes effect from 1/7, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong stated that the law stipulates various measures aimed at maintaining the replacement birth rate. Accordingly, female workers giving birth to a second child are entitled to seven months of maternity leave, and male workers are granted 10 working days of leave when their wives give birth.

The State will provide financial support for childbirth to women from very small ethnic minority groups, women giving birth in provinces and cities with birth rates below the replacement level, and women who have two children before the age of 35. Priority for purchasing, lease-purchasing, or renting social housing will also be given in accordance with housing law to individuals with two or more biological children.

Residents living in the Le Thanh An Lac social housing area, Binh Tan district (old). Photo: Quynh Tran

Mr. Pham Vu Hoang, Deputy Director of the Population Department (Ministry of Health), stated that the pro-natalist policies within the law are fundamental, principled, and long-term, including the expansion of eligibility for social housing policies.

To ensure legal consistency, the National Assembly has authorized the amendment of Article 76 of the Housing Law concerning eligibility for social housing support policies. The Ministry of Health is currently advising the Government to issue decrees and circulars that will detail the implementation of these incentives.

Specifically, the Ministry of Health is coordinating with the Ministry of Construction to amend and supplement Circular 05/2024, which details several articles of the Housing Law. This amendment will clarify the required documentation to prove eligibility and conditions for social housing policies. The circular is expected to be issued before 15/5.

The Population Law also empowers the Government to decide on other measures to maintain the replacement birth rate. Provincial-level authorities are allowed to set higher support levels than those issued by the Government, in accordance with local conditions. Concurrently, the law adds provisions to reduce birth gender imbalance, such as prohibiting fetal sex selection and banning the announcement and disclosure of fetal gender.

Son Ha