The draft Population Law dedicates an article to integrating demographic factors into socio-economic development strategies, plans, programs, and projects.

Delegate Tran Thi Hien from Ninh Binh pointed out that while the draft identifies key demographic elements - such as population size, structure, and distribution - it overlooks the critical issue of population aging.

Quoting recommendations from the United Nations Population Fund, she stressed that addressing aging and the needs of the elderly must be central in national development policy to adapt and harness the opportunities of an aging society.

In countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China, the silver economy - comprising goods and services tailored for older adults - has flourished.

Delegate Hien recommended that Vietnam include population aging as a fundamental demographic factor in policy planning.

She cited Japan’s conversion of unused school buildings into senior care centers due to a lack of students, while in Vietnam, priority is currently being given to transforming surplus government office space into educational and healthcare facilities.

Given that Vietnam’s elderly population grew at an average annual rate of over 4% from 2019 to 2021 - with about 600,000 people turning 60 each year - and the aging index rising from 35.5 in 2009 to 53.1 in 2021, she argued that now is the time to proactively develop policies to expand nursing homes and eldercare services.

Such initiatives would increase access to senior services within communities, laying the foundation for a silver economy aligned with Resolution 149 of the Politburo on “Strengthening and developing the eldercare network; promoting socialization of population services.”

“The General Secretary, To Lam, once suggested a compassionate and practical semi-boarding model for eldercare in communities,” she added, noting this is also a widely adopted and effective approach in Japan.

Barriers to developing eldercare services

According to the 2010 Law on the Elderly, the state encourages individuals and organizations to invest in eldercare centers.

However, Delegate Hien noted that the reality has been far from ideal. Most services are expensive and cater only to those who can afford to pay tens of millions of dong (equivalent to several hundred to over 1,000 USD) per month.

She attributed this to difficulties in accessing land, facilities, and trained personnel.

She proposed specific policies to incentivize investment in eldercare centers and community-based services, including priority access to land and tax incentives.

Additionally, she recommended policies to support Vietnamese caregivers who return from working abroad in eldercare or nursing roles to continue their careers in Vietnam, leveraging their experience to fill domestic service gaps.

Parental leave debate: extra month for second child sparks concern

Turning to fertility policies, Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga from Hai Phong commented on a proposal in the draft law that grants an additional month of maternity leave for women giving birth to a second child.

She acknowledged the support this policy might receive from many mothers but urged caution.

Extended leave, she said, may lead employers to hesitate in hiring or promoting women to key positions due to concerns over work disruptions and increased costs.

“This regulation could unintentionally become a barrier for women in the workplace and increase gender discrimination in recruitment and job assignments,” she noted.

In today's workforce, many women - especially young professionals - prioritize their careers.

Long absences due to extended maternity leave could negatively affect their career progression, performance evaluations, and overall position within organizations.

Delegate Nga suggested a more flexible and inclusive approach.

Instead of mandating longer leave exclusively for women, she proposed a shared parental leave system.

Under this model, either the mother or father could take extended leave, with a combined cap of 7 to 8 months, allowing families to decide how best to divide caregiving responsibilities.

“This not only ensures newborn care but also promotes parental responsibility sharing and reduces the burden on women during postpartum recovery,” she emphasized.

Tran Thuong