From July 1, women who have 2 children will enjoy many special policies
According to the provisions of the Population Law, from July 1, women who have a second child are entitled to many benefits such as longer maternity leave, priority to buy and rent social housing.
On the afternoon of January 5, the Office of the President held a press conference to announce the President's Order promulgating the laws that were just passed by the 15th National Assembly at the 10th Session, including the Population Law.
The Population Law consists of 8 chapters and 30 articles, effective from July 1, 2026.
Pointing out the new points of the Law, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that the Law marks an important development step in perfecting institutions and policies on population, meeting the requirements of national development in the new period.
To maintain the replacement surcharge, the law stipulates increasing maternity leave, financial support when giving birth, and adding subjects eligible to buy, rent, or rent social housing according to the provisions of the law on housing.
The law also clearly stipulates that each couple has the right to decide on the time to give birth, the number of children and the distance between births appropriate to the age, health status, income and parenting of each individual and couple on an equal basis.
In case of having a second child, the maternity leave for female workers is 7 months; for male workers is 10 working days when the wife gives birth.
There are very few ethnic minority women; women in provinces and cities with a birth rate below the replacement level and women who give birth to 2 children before the age of 35, according to the provisions of the Law, will be financially supported when giving birth.
People with 2 or more children will also be given priority to buy, rent or rent social housing according to the provisions of the law on housing.
The law stipulates that the Government will decide on other measures to maintain replacement fertility. Based on the ability to balance the budget, local authorities at the provincial level can decide on a support level higher than the support level prescribed by the Government.
To minimize gender imbalance at birth, the law strictly prohibits the choice of fetal gender in any form; notify and reveal the fetal gender (except for cases prescribed by the Minister of Health to serve the diagnosis and treatment of gender-related diseases).
The act of forced or compulsory labor or not having children is also strictly prohibited.
In order to minimize gender imbalance at birth, the law encourages the inclusion of male-on-female male content and non- sex selection at birth in the village wishes and conventions of the community.
Those who announce or reveal the gender of the fetus for abortion will be suspended from medical examination and treatment, according to the Population Law.
The Law also amends and supplements a number of articles of the laws related to population work.
The Population Law takes effect from July 1, but the regulations on financial support when giving birth for women in provinces and cities with a birth rate below the replacement level and financial support when giving birth for women who give birth to 2 children before the age of 35 will take effect later, from January 1, 2027.
At the press conference, Mr. Pham Vu Hoang - Deputy Director of the Department of Population (Ministry of Health) said that the major policies stipulated in the law are general principles.
Regarding the policy of maintaining the replacement fertility rate, in addition to regulations of a framework, fundamental nature, and long-term nature, there are specific regulations. In which, there are additional subjects who are allowed to buy, rent or lease social housing according to the provisions of the law on housing.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is advising the Government to develop decrees and circulars of the Ministry of Health to guide the law. In particular, coordinate with the Ministry of Construction to develop a circular amending and supplementing Circular 05/2024 detailing a number of articles of the Housing Law on documents proving the subject and conditions for enjoying social housing support policies. Expected to be completed before May 15, 2026.
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