SHENZHEN is soliciting public opinions on its draft regulations of elderly care service, which propose nursing leave for the only child so that they can rush back to their hometown to take care of their parents during medical or other emergencies, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

According to statistics provided by the city’s civil affairs bureau, there are more than 300,000 elderly people registered in Shenzhen, accounting for about 7 percent of the total registered population. It is predicted that Shenzhen will meet or approach the standards of an aging society in 10 years.

So far, 16 provinces and municipalities in China have granted the only child special leave so they could take care of their parents during emergencies, with times ranging from one week to 20 days.

The draft regulations stipulate that employers should give their only-child employees up to 20 days of paid nursing leave each year if either of their parents, aged 60 or above, is hospitalized.

It is also proposed that the city government should build an efficient and convenient elderly care service network. At least one district-level elderly care service agency and one comprehensive elderly care service agency should be built in a district and subdistrict, respectively.

Among the registered elderly in Shenzhen, there are more than 8,500 people aged between 60 and 79 who experience moderate to severe disability, and nearly 40,000 people are over the age of 80.

To solve the nursing problems of disabled and elderly people, the draft rules propose to establish a long-term nursing insurance system and clarify the content and cost standard of long-term medical care and nursing projects.

The long-term nursing insurance mainly aims to provide nursing security and economic compensation for the insured in case of losing the ability to take care of themselves in their daily life or when they become old and sick. (Zhang Yu)