Proposal to remove disciplinary regulations for party members having a third child

During a group discussion at the National Assembly on socio-economic issues on the morning of October 26, the Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety expressed his concern: "Vietnam is making efforts to increase the birth rate, but party members who have a third child are still disciplined."

She 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". After that, 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 cadre or party member 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," Ms. Lan stated the current situation.

Therefore, the female delegate of Ho Chi Minh City requested that the authorities soon amend these regulations, because "these are all things within reach".

"The policy of disciplining party members who have a third child may have been correct in the past, but now that Vietnam's birth rate is low, we need to change our views on having children," said Ms. Lan.

Agreeing with Ms. Lan's point of view, Professor Nguyen Thien Nhan said he had recommended that competent authorities remove the disciplinary regulation on 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 have the means to raise children well have many children.

While Vietnam's birth rate is decreasing rapidly, authorities need to soon amend regulations to remove barriers and eliminate the mentality of officials and party members not daring to have a third child.

Removing the disciplinary regulation for party members having a third child also aims to communicate to the people about population policy in the new situation.

Mr. Nhan 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 now.

Therefore, he "strongly requested" the Government to 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," Mr. Nhan explained.

At the same time, Mr. Nhan hopes the Government will soon announce the minimum living standard and minimum living wage for a family of four.

"The minimum living wage is the amount of money a worker can earn to support dependents and children. Only then can we increase the birth rate, with each family having two children. If we do not announce the minimum living wage and do not increase it, there is no way we can increase the birth rate," Professor Nhan suggested.

The government also needs to build a happiness index for Vietnamese people, with reference to the world, to build a happy life for Vietnamese people.

Localities base on the national happiness index to have appropriate development policies.

Delegate Pham Duc An, Chairman of the Board of Members of Agribank, agreed that declining birth rates are a long-term problem for Vietnam. The rate in urban areas is the most worrying as families do not have enough economic conditions, housing, income, and education, so they do not dare to have children.

Mr. An warned that the consequences of Japan's aging population are an obvious lesson for Vietnam. "There are factories that produce diapers for children, but now they are switching to making diapers for adults," Mr. An said. The delegate suggested that the Government needs to have fundamental, long-term solutions to comprehensively solve this problem.

According to the 2003 Population Ordinance, amended in 2008, each couple and individual decides the timing and spacing of childbirth; to have one or two children, except in special cases prescribed by the Government.

Meanwhile, the 2017 Central Resolution on population policy in the new situation raises the viewpoint of promoting the pioneering and exemplary role of cadres and party members in implementing population policies and guidelines, especially having two children.

Party members who have a third child are considered to violate population policy and may be subject to disciplinary action, except in a few specific cases.