The Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, together with four other departments, has officially issued the Notice on the Implementation of Social Insurance Subsidies for Employers During Female Employees’ Maternity and Childcare Leave, introducing a major new policy to support childbirth.

The policy has taken effect on July 18, 2025, and remain in force until July 17, 2030.

Key Points

• Eligible Entities: Enterprises, social organizations, law firms, accounting firms, and self-employed individuals participating in social insurance as a legal entity in Shanghai.

• Eligibility Criteria:
  1. From January 1, 2025, female employees must give birth during their employment and be entitled to both maternity leave and childcare leave under Shanghai regulations.
  2. Employers must grant the full maternity and childcare leave (158 days in total) and continue paying social insurance contributions during this period.

• Application Period: Within one year after the end of the employee’s maternity and childcare leave.

• Subsidy Coverage: Employer-paid contributions to the four major social insurances during maternity and childcare leave:
  • Basic pension insurance
  • Basic medical insurance (including maternity insurance)
  • Unemployment insurance
  • Work-related injury insurance

• Subsidy Amount: 50% of the employer’s contribution to the above social insurances.

• Subsidy Duration: Six consecutive months starting from the month of childbirth.

• Parity Rule: Applicable for all births regardless of whether it is the first, second, or third child, as long as confirmed by the employee.

• Policy Validity: July 18, 2025 – July 17, 2030.

Example

If Company A contributes RMB 4,000 per month to social insurance for Ms. Wang during her maternity leave (employer portion), it can receive a monthly subsidy of RMB 2,000. Over six months, this totals RMB 12,000.

The company may apply to the district-level HRSS Bureau within one year after Ms. Wang’s maternity and childcare leave ends by submitting the social insurance subsidy application form and the birth certificate (if not already available through data sharing). Upon approval, the subsidy of RMB 12,000 will be transferred directly to the company’s account.

Important Notes

• The subsidy operates on a “pay first, reimburse later” basis. Employers should monitor the opening of the online application system (expected by late August).

• The subsidy cannot be combined with the following during the same leave period:
  1. Social insurance subsidies for employing persons with employment difficulties
  2. Social insurance subsidies for newly hired university graduates
  3. Social insurance subsidies for start-up organizations in their early stage
  4. Other social insurance subsidies

• Public welfare job placement organizations are excluded from eligibility.

• Labor dispatch agencies may apply for their directly employed and insured workers (including those hired for contracting or outsourcing projects) as well as dispatched employees—except those dispatched to government or public institutions, who are not covered by this policy.

Conclusion

The new policy aims to establish a shared-cost mechanism for childbirth, jointly supported by the government, society, and businesses. It further reinforces a “family-friendly” value orientation, leveraging the combined effect of “family-friendly job” initiatives and maternity social insurance subsidies to lower employment barriers for women and promote high-quality, full employment opportunities for them.