New fertility policies and better regulation of the troubled property sector will be among issues raised by delegates at China’s annual political gathering, which kicked off Monday.

With voting tightly controlled and legislation pre-approved by the ruling Communist Party, it is unlikely any of their proposals will be enacted into law.

But attendees at the conclave known as the “Two Sessions” can put forward suggestions hoping they might influence future legislation.

It can take years for a proposal to be adopted, and many never make it to the voting chamber at all.

Nevertheless, the delegates “play an important role in representing citizen interests on a range of politically non-sensitive issues”, Changhao Wei, an expert on China’s legislature, told AFP.

Here are some of this year’s proposals:

Demographic bandaids

After the country’s population decline accelerated in 2023, China’s demographic woes are under the spotlight.

Allowing single women to freeze their eggs should be explored, said Zhao Changlong, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s political advisory body.

Medical insurance should fully cover pain relief during childbirth, he added, among other suggestions aimed at boosting birth rates.

Li Shulin, a delegate to the National People’s Congress (NPC) China’s rubber-stamp parliament — said he would propose special fertility policies for rural areas, including financial incentives.

Tuo Qingming, an NPC delegate from southwestern Sichuan province, wants free medical services for children under six and seniors above 75 years old.

Another suggestion that anticipates problems caused by an ageing population involves measures to strengthen care for elderly patients with long-term illness or disability.

Property sector trust

The property sector meltdown at the heart of China’s economic stuttering has hurt huge swathes of the population.

Financial troubles at major firms such as Evergrande and Country Garden have stalled development and fuelled buyer mistrust.

In recent years cash-strapped companies have struggled to raise enough to complete developments that they have already sold units for in advance, a common practice.

In reaction to this, NPC delegate Zhu Zhengfu said he would propose abolishing the housing pre-sale system.

Offline means offline

CPPCC member Lyu Guoquan said he would suggest legislation to protect the right of workers to “rest during off hours”.

“Some employers require employees to join work groups on instant messaging platforms and arrange work during their off hours, violating their right to rest and privacy,” he told the state-run China Daily.

China’s intense, burnout-inducing study and work culture has seen many young people “lie flat” — a term referring to doing the bare minimum rather than striving for success.

Foreign business unease

CPPCC member Jiang Ying, also chair of accounting giant Deloitte China, told local Shanghai media that she would call for “a better foreign-related legalised business environment”.

Foreign businesses have been spooked by a crackdown on consulting firms operating in the country, and changes to an anti-espionage law which gives Beijing more power than ever to punish what it deems threats to national security.

Jiang said she would suggest “improving the consistency, synergy and predictability of the formulation and implementation of foreign-related laws and regulations”.

Integrating Hong Kong

Pro-Beijing delegates from Hong Kong have put forward at least 30 proposals, state-backed tabloid Global Times said.

They include measures for “enhancing patriotic education” in the semi-autonomous financial hub, where Beijing has been increasingly flexing its authority after the imposition of a national security law in 2020.

“Also, there is hope for southwest China’s Sichuan province to once again gift giant pandas to Hong Kong,” Global Times said.

Animals, teenagers, taxi drivers

Other proposals show a wide variety of concerns, with one CPPCC member calling for legislation to protect pets, as animal rights awareness grows in the country.

Adolescent mental health will also be raised, including suggestions that medical insurance covers counselling for young people.

And an NPC deputy for Inner Mongolia has taken up the issue of taxi drivers’ rights — calling for the retirement age to be raised above 60, because of the difficulty in finding re-employment afterwards.