Discussing the socio-economic situation in a group on the morning of October 26, National Assembly delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan (HCMC delegation) expressed concern: "Vietnam is making efforts to increase the birth rate, but party members who have a third child are still disciplined."
The delegate cited a case where a party member gave birth to a third child, and the doctor concluded that despite using contraception, there was still an "accident". Afterwards, the doctors had to work with the authorities to confirm whether the issuance of the certificate of unwanted pregnancy was correct or not.
"If a party member or official is about to be appointed and has a third child, it's considered over. Especially near the grassroots party congress, there are people who have no faults but are accused of having a third child," said a delegate.
From the above evidence, delegates suggested that the authorities should soon amend these regulations, because these are all things within reach.
According to the delegate, the regulation on disciplining party members who have a third child may have been correct in the previous period, but now that Vietnam's birth rate is low, it is necessary to change the perspective on having children.
Delegate Nguyen Thien Nhan (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) said he had proposed that the competent authority remove the disciplinary regulation for party members having a third child, to adapt to the new situation.
In today's modern society, families who feel they cannot raise children naturally have fewer children. Only families who can afford to raise children well have many children.
While Vietnam's birth rate is decreasing rapidly, the authorities need to soon amend the regulations to remove barriers and eliminate the mentality of officials and party members who dare not have a third child. Removing the disciplinary regulation for party members who have a third child also aims to communicate to the people about population policy in the new situation.
Delegates expressed concern that in 2023, Vietnam's fertility rate will be 1.96, while the ideal replacement fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman. Seven years ago, the Central Government requested to maintain the total replacement fertility rate, but it has not been maintained at this time.
"I strongly recommend that the Government add the total replacement fertility rate index to the socio-economic report to have measures to increase the birth rate. This is an important national indicator, related to human development and the country's sustainability," delegate Nguyen Thien Nhan proposed.
The delegation from Ho Chi Minh City hopes that the Government will soon announce the minimum living standard and minimum living wage for a family of four. The minimum living wage is one person who works to support dependents and children. Only then can we increase the birth rate, each family has 2 children.
Without introducing a minimum living wage and raising it, there is no way we can increase the birth rate.
The government also needs to build a set of happiness indexes for Vietnamese people, with reference to the world, to build a happy life for Vietnamese people. Localities should base on the national happiness index to have appropriate development policies.
At the 7th Session, delegates Pham Khanh Phong Lan and Nguyen Thien Nhan also mentioned the proposal to remove disciplinary action against party members who have a third child.
According to the delegate, we only talk about the phenomenon of population aging but the policy is not clearly stated. In it, the things that party members are not allowed to do include not violating the population policy.
