Consider adding population size, structure and distribution to the scope of regulation.

Discussing at Group 14 (including the National Assembly delegations of Quang Ninh, An Giang, and Ha Tinh provinces) on the afternoon of October 23, delegates proposed, considered, and researched adding population size, structure, and distribution to the scope of regulation of the draft Population Law.

Population distribution still has many shortcomings.

The majority of opinions of the National Assembly Deputies Group 14 agreed with the promulgation of the Population Law to institutionalize the Party's policies and guidelines on population work; they said that, basically, the draft Law ensures compliance with the Constitution, ensures unity and synchronization in the legal system, and compatibility with relevant international treaties.

Group 14 meeting scene

The draft Population Law is expected to have a scope of regulation including maintaining replacement fertility; minimizing gender imbalance at birth; adapting to population aging and aging population; improving population quality; communication, mobilization, and education about population; and conditions to ensure implementation of population work.

According to National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Viet Thang ( An Giang ), the provisions in the draft Law are unreasonable, because in reality, in addition to regulations on communication, education and mobilization on population; maintaining replacement fertility; reducing gender imbalance at birth; adapting to population aging, aging population; improving population quality; conditions to ensure implementation of population work, conditions to ensure implementation of population work..., there are also regulations on population size, population distribution structure, and regulations on State management of population.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Viet Thang (An Giang) speaks

Therefore, it is recommended that the drafting agency revise the scope of regulation to be more comprehensive and consistent with the content expressed in the draft Law.

Compared with the current Population Ordinance, the draft Law has removed the scope of adjustment on population size, population structure, population distribution, population allocation and measures to implement population work.

National Assembly Delegate Do Thi Lan ( Quang Ninh ) speaks

Stating this, National Assembly Delegate Do Thi Lan (Quang Ninh) expressed disagreement with removing these contents.

Because, firstly , the draft Law has a chapter regulating the size, structure and distribution of the population.

Second , Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW on population work in the new situation identified that population distribution and migration are still inadequate and migrants' access to basic social services is limited.

The Resolution also presents the viewpoint that population work in the new situation must shift its focus from population policy and family planning to population development, including directing that population work must pay comprehensive attention to aspects such as population size, structure, and population distribution.

In particular, population quality must be placed in relation to socio-economic development, national defense and security factors for sustainable development.

Delegates attending meeting Group 14

Third , the current population distribution is still very inadequate. For example, some large cities have very high population density such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, etc., but the population density in mountainous provinces and ethnic minority areas is very low.

Therefore, delegate Do Thi Lan suggested that it is necessary to consider and research to add these contents to the scope of regulation of the draft Law.

Supplementing long-term solutions and policies to maintain replacement fertility levels

Regarding maintaining replacement fertility, Article 13 of the draft Law stipulates measures to maintain replacement fertility such as: increasing maternity leave when giving birth; prioritizing the purchase of social housing...

Delegates attending meeting Group 14

Delegate Nguyen Viet Thang said that these are appropriate policies. However, these regulations are only short-term support to ensure the maintenance of replacement fertility. It is necessary to add some longer-term solutions and policies such as: ensuring employment, stabilizing income to have enough financial capacity to raise young children, supporting education, health care, etc.

Also related to this content, National Assembly Deputy Hoang Trung Dung (Ha Tinh) proposed that it is necessary to add a measure to Clause 1, stipulating: "Legal and financial support for infertile couples".

National Assembly Deputy Hoang Trung Dung (Ha Tinh) speaks

The delegate said that currently, the rate of infertile couples in Vietnam accounts for about 7-10% of the population of reproductive age, while the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) ranges from 60-100 million VND/time, beyond the ability of many families.

"The addition of this provision aims to increase humanity, support the right to legal parenthood, and at the same time contribute to maintaining the replacement fertility rate and ensuring sustainable population development," the delegate emphasized.

Delegates attending meeting Group 14

In addition, delegate Hoang Trung Dung suggested that it is necessary to supplement regulations on maternity leave for single women giving birth. Because currently, the new law stipulates maternity leave for pregnant women giving birth in legal marriages, and does not specifically mention the case of single women giving birth.

Delegates attending meeting Group 14

The addition of the above provision aims to ensure equal and humane rights, in accordance with social reality and the principle of protecting mothers and children as recorded in the Constitution and international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/can-nhac-bo-sung-quy-mo-co-cau-phan-bo-dan-so-vao-pham-vi-dieu-chinh-10392642.html