Beijing: The ruling Communist Party has ended one child policy on Sunday December 27 with the signing into law of a bill allowing all married couples to have a second child.
According to reports it was an attempt to cope with an ageing population and shrinking workforce.
The change was announced in October by the ruling Communist Party, takes effect from January 1, sources said.
All married couples will be allowed to have a second child but the legislation maintains limits on additional births.
The “one child policy”, instituted in the late 1970s, restricted most couples to only a single offspring and for years authorities argued that it was a key contributor to China’s economic boom and had prevented 400 million births.
Inputs from agencies
