China could consider removing restrictions on marital status used for the registration of newborns, allowing unmarried women to enjoy services relating to fertility the same as married women, according to a proposal a Chinese political advisor plans to submit during this year's two sessions.
"All citizens are equal in front of law but only married women up to the policy of family planning could enjoy preferential policy like birth insurance, material leave and reimbursement for assisted reproductive technology expenses," said Xie Wenmin, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.
While this population may be small in China but their needs cannot be neglected, Xie noted. Xie has prepared to make the proposal to move restrictions of marital status for birth registration at the two sessions.
In China, before women get access to birth-related services or enjoy preferential policies including birth insurance, they should register the births of their children and the number. Getting married is a premise for this registration.
Provinces including South China's Guangdong, Southwest China's Sichuan and Shanghai Municipality are among forerunners to have already called off such restriction.
