BEIJING: China on Saturday announced measures to simplify the marriage registration process and lessen the financial burden on couples, the latest initiative by Beijing to boost births.
Couples having children outside of marriage is rare in China, where there is social stigma and fewer protections for such families.
Measures have already been taken to tackle the decline in couples tying the knot and having children, such as cash incentives and pledges to build more childcare infrastructure.
The latest step allows people to register their marriage where they live, state broadcaster CCTV reported Saturday citing a government document.
“This reform is aimed at addressing the needs of people who live or work away from their registered hometowns, particularly younger generations,” state news agency Xinhua reported.
Until now, couples have had to travel to wherever the bride or groom is named in the civil registry, which has created travel and financial burdens.
For example, a couple living in Beijing in the country’s north, would not have been able to register their marriage in the capital if they came from different parts of the country.
“To better respond to public expectations and based on the success of pilot projects, the registration of marriages in the whole country will be implemented,” CCTV announced.
As China faces an uncertain economic outlook, the country saw marriages decline by one-fifth last year and experienced a third consecutive year of overall population decline.
In a further step to address the issue, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will promote the “fight against certain harmful customs such as high ‘bride prices’ and wasteful expenses for weddings,” according to CCTV.
The “bride price” is usually cash offered by the groom’s family to his future wife.
It is often seen as a mark of respect toward in-laws and a contribution to a young couple’s life together.
But the cost can sometimes be prohibitively high and create financial pressure on the groom’s family, as well as increasing social inequality.
Among the numerous reasons young Chinese hesitate to wed and have children is a shortage of savings to buy an apartment, a step which usually comes before marriage.
Education fees are also a key factor, whether daycare costs or private tuition that is seen as almost essential for a child’s academic success.
Beijing simplifies marriages to encourage Chinese to wed
https://arab.news/9xfes
Beijing simplifies marriages to encourage Chinese to wed
- Measures have already been taken to tackle the decline in couples tying the knot and having children
- The latest step allows people to register their marriage where they live
Severe floods in southeast Brazil kill at least 25 and force hundreds to evacuate
- Minas Gerais’ fire department says it is searching for 43 people who went missing since late Monday
- Officials have warned residents to stay away from areas that could be prone to mudslides
JUIZ DE FOR A, Brazil: Severe floods in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 25 people and left dozens missing in the state of Minas Gerais, officials said Tuesday. Meteorologists warned more rain is expected in the region in the next few days.
The torrential rains began Monday in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro, forcing about 440 residents to evacuate their homes.
Minas Gerais’ fire department says it is searching for 43 people who went missing since late Monday. A video shared by the department showed flooded streets in Juiz de Fora and Uba, where a river veered off its course.
Officials have warned residents to stay away from areas that could be prone to mudslides.
Juiz de Fora is a city of 560,000 residents, while neighboring Uba has 107,000, according to Brazil’s statistics agency.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on his social media channels that security forces are working on the rescue and providing immediate assistance to the population affected by the rain.
Brazil’s meteorology institute Inmet said in a statement that more rain is forecast for the region, which lies close to hills, valleys and slopes.
Juiz de Fora City Hall said in a statement the city experienced double the rain expected for February. Mayor Margarida Salomão said earlier at least 20 landslides were reported.
Firefighter Demetrius Bastos Goulart, 47, said rescue efforts will be slow and lengthy. “It is a high volume (of mud) in the landslides, we have to work with a lot of precision to avoid any damage to potential victims,” Goulard told The Associated Press.
