Shanghai in push for two-child families

After 30 years of strictly imposing a 'one-child policy', the Chinese city of Shanghai is encouraging couples to have two children.

Through exemptions in the policy, couples who are both only children are exempt from the policy and are allowed two children.

Shanghai has seen a huge growth in their over 60 population, while the number of working-age residents dwindled. The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says that by 2050 the country will have 1.6 working adults for every retired resident, compared with 7.7 in 1979.

Official figures show that Shanghai has an over 60 population exceeding three million, amounting to 21.6% of all residents. The city, China's most populous, expects over a third of it's population to be retired by 2020.

Zhang Meixin, a spokesman from Shanghai's Municipal Population and Family Planning Commission said that, currently, on average each Chinese women has less than one child and added that "If all couples have children according to the policy, it would definitely help relieve pressure in the long term,".

Family planning officials are organising volunteers to deliver leaflets and make home visits to encourage only-children couples to have two children.

The Chinese government has enforced it's 'one-child poilcy' since 1979 to control the country's rapidly growing population. Families with more than one-child are denied access to healthcare and education and have benefits cut. They may also have to pay fines and can face discrimination in the workplace.

The policy has a number of exceptions which allow couples to have more than one child. Rural families and those belonging to certain ethnic minorities are exempt from the policy as are only-child couples. Some exceptions are also made where the first born is a girl or has disabilities.

China has been widely criticised for its harsh implementation of the policy which often uses forced abortions and sterilisations to prevent further births. The policy has also created a generation of 'Little Emperors', so-named because they have been spoilt with lavish gifts.