It is common for provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China to have laws entitling employees to employer-paid leave (referred to as nursing care leave) to care for their “elderly” parents (generally defined as age 60 or above), typically for when a parent is hospitalized. Shanghai is the latest jurisdiction to introduce such an entitlement; effective November 1, 2025, employees are entitled to five days’ paid leave per year (seven days for employees who are only children) to care for a hospitalized parent age 60 or above.
Entitlements to nursing care leave vary by jurisdiction.
For only children:
For employees with siblings:
Entitlements are annual and can be taken incrementally, but unused nursing care leave cannot be carried forward. Eligibility can vary based on the age of the parents, the nature of their care and hospitalization, and verification of circumstances. Rules on pay during leave likewise vary somewhat.
Nationally, approximately 22% of the population are age 60 or older; in Shanghai the percentage is 38% (Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau data). Demand for leave to care for the elderly is driven by a combination of factors. Aside from the effects of an aging population, many public hospitals across China rely on family members of patients to assist with personal care (for elderly patients in particular). Long-standing societal expectations of filial piety are perhaps the most important factor, alongside the 2019 Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which stipulates that children have a legal obligation to provide for their parents.
