New law requires children to visit elderly parents often   

一批法律法规今起实施 子女“常回家看看”写入法律

新修订的《老年人权益保障法》今日起正式实施。新法规定，家庭成员应当关心老年人的精神需求，不得忽视、冷落老年人。与老年人分开居住的家庭成员，应当经常看望或者问候老年人。这也被媒体解读为“常回家看看写入法律”，不常看望老人将属违法。[查看全文]

(Ecns) - The newly-amended Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which requires adult children to visit their elderly parents often, officially takes effect today.

According to the amendment, family members should care for and look after elderly people "spiritually," and any neglect is forbidden.

The law also requires employers to guarantee their employees' rights to home leave in accordance with regulations.

Moreover, the State must establish and improve family pension support policies, encourage family members to live with aged parents or in nearby neighborhoods, provide conditions for elderly people with migrant spouses or dependents, and offer help to family members who care for the aged.

In addition, local governments at all levels should give priority to qualified elderly people when implementing housing security polices, such as low-rent housing and public rental housing, and retrofitting old houses.

The State must establish and improve welfare regulations for elderly people and increase their welfare, the new law says.

Today, another two regulations made by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Pension Institutions Established Licensing Approach and Pension Agency Management Approach, also came into effect.