Proposed China Law Requires Children to Care for Elderly Parents

Chinese leaders proposed legislation that requires adult children to care for the emotional needs of their elderly parents. The elderly will be able to invoke the law if their children do not come home to take care of them often.

After decades of China’s one-child policy, fewer workers are able to support the increasing number of elderly people. Wu Ming, a Ministry of Civil Affairs official, stated, “For a typical Chinese family in which two adults have to take care of four old people and one child, adult children indeed have difficulties to take care of their elderly parents. Therefore, more social supports are required.”

Proposed China Law Mandates Elder Care, UPI.com, Jan. 6, 2011.

Special thanks to Adam J. Hirsch (William and Catherine VanDercreek Professor of Law, Florida State University College of Law) for bringing this to my attention.