The 2025 Population Law will officially take effect from July 1, 2026, which stipulates many policies to maintain the replacement fertility rate, encouraging families to have enough two children. People who have a second child according to new regulations will enjoy a series of incentives on maternity leave, financial support and social housing.
According to Clause 7, Article 2 of the 2025 Population Law, the replacement birth rate is defined as "the average birth rate per woman of reproductive age to give birth to 2.1 children". Maintaining this birth rate is considered an important requirement to ensure population balance, human resources and sustainable socio-economic development in the long term.
Article 14 of the 2025 Population Law clearly stipulates measures to maintain the replacement fertility rate. In which, in case of having a second child, female workers are entitled to 7 months of maternity leave, an increase of 1 month compared to current regulations; male workers are entitled to 10 working days when their wives give birth.
In addition, the Law also stipulates financial support for childbirth for women of very small ethnic minorities; women living in provinces and cities with birth rates below replacement birth rates; and women who have 2 children before the age of 35. Specific support levels and procedures for implementation will be regulated by the Government based on socio-economic conditions of each period.
Notably, the 2025 Population Law supplements the policy of prioritizing the purchase, lease-purchase or lease of social housing according to the provisions of the law on housing for people with 2 or more biological children. This is considered an important new point, directly affecting the housing needs of young families.
Thus, from July 1, 2026, people who have a second child will enjoy the following incentives:
Female workers are entitled to 7 months of maternity leave; male workers are entitled to 10 working days when their wives give birth.
Financial support when giving birth to children for ethnic minority women is very small.
Financial support when giving birth to children for women in provinces and cities with birth rates below replacement birth rates.
Financial support for women who have 2 children before the age of 35.
Priority is given to buying, renting, or renting social housing for people with 2 or more biological children.
The addition of these policies is expected to contribute to removing the psychological fear of childbirth of many families, especially in large cities and areas with low birth rates, thereby gradually maintaining the replacement birth rate according to the set target.
