An international conference on policy consultation and solutions to prevent the trend of low fertility was organized by the Department of Population (Ministry of Health) on the morning of August 28, in Hanoi.
Mr. Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Population Department, said that in recent times, population work has achieved encouraging achievements. Vietnam officially reached replacement fertility level in 2006 when the total fertility rate (TFR) was 2.09 children/woman and has been maintained throughout the past time.
Fertility rates nationwide are tending to decrease below replacement fertility levels
This result contributes to promoting population restructuring in a positive direction. Vietnam has entered the golden population period since 2007, creating opportunities for the economy to breakthrough and develop rapidly. Population quality has improved in many aspects...
However, besides the advantages, Vietnam is facing a new challenge: Maintaining a solid replacement fertility rate nationwide is not really sustainable, fertility levels vary significantly between regions. In regions and subjects, a trend of low fertility appears.
Mr. Dung said that the Ministry of Health is researching and proposing policies and solutions to firmly ensure the country's replacement fertility rate. The conference is an opportunity to provide information to policy makers and implementers; Refer to the views and policies to respond to low fertility levels of countries around the world, thereby providing general direction in policy development to maintain replacement fertility levels in Vietnam.
Reporting at the conference, Mr. Pham Vu Hoang - Deputy Director of the Population Department, Ministry of Health - said that the average age of first marriage has changed towards later marriage. Increased from 24.1 years old (1999) to 25.2 years old (2019). After 4 years, by 2023, the age of first marriage will continue to increase by 2 years and is currently 27.2 years old. For men, the average age at first marriage is 29.3 and for women it is 25.1. At the same time, urban women give birth later and have fewer children than rural women.
"It can be seen that fertility rates are decreasing due to urbanization, economic development, pressure to find jobs, housing, living costs, and costs of raising and caring for children. Besides, lower The infrastructure has many shortcomings such as lack of schools, high tuition and hospital fees, which do not encourage people to have children.
Education and living conditions are increasingly improving, making many people want to enjoy themselves, spend time and money on personal pleasures without wanting to have children" - Mr. Hoang analyzed.
Current solution
Analyzing risks, opportunities and synchronous solutions for sustainable population development, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, Delegate to the 15th National Assembly, former Deputy Prime Minister, warned if Vietnam does not have a major breakthrough. socio-economic and population policies , Vietnam's fertility rate continues to decline sharply.
Professor Nguyen Thien Nhan also recommended that for sustainable population development, if each family has 2 children, the income of a family of 2 working people must be able to properly support 4 people (2 adults, 2 children). . It is necessary to change from minimum wage regulations to minimum living wage regulations for a family of 4 people.
Employees' working hours must be short enough (8 hours/day, 40 hours/week) so that they have time to find a partner, take care of children, family, and personal interests.
