The Standing Committee of the People's Congress in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, has passed new regulations offering preferential treatment to elderly residents, marking the first such local law in China.

The "Regulations on Preferential Treatment for the Elderly" will take effect on Jan 1.

The law introduces measures aimed at easing the burden on families caring for elderly relatives. Employers are encouraged to provide support to workers whose elderly parents are hospitalized, granting them a minimum of five days of paid leave per year.

The leave will not affect salary, benefits or promotion prospects, the regulations say.

"This is a significant step forward," said Xu Xiao, deputy director of the Legal Affairs Committee of the People's Congress Standing Committee in Yangzhou.

"Yangzhou first introduced preferential treatment measures in 2018. This new regulation builds on that foundation, incorporating feedback from a wide range of enterprises and adjusting provisions based on the city's aging population."

One key change is expanding paid leave eligibility to all children of elderly parents, rather than limiting it to only children. The decision, Xu said, reflects the urgent need to support families in Yangzhou, where 28.59 percent of the city's 4.58 million residents are aged 60 or older.

The broader trend of China's aging population is also stark. According to a recent report from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, by the end of last year, the country had nearly 297 million people aged 60 or above, making up 21.1 percent of the total population.

In addition to paid leave, the new regulations aim to make daily life easier for elderly residents by improving access to healthcare and public services.

Healthcare institutions are required to establish priority services for elderly patients, including streamlined appointment systems and designated hospital departments for geriatric care. Elderly residents will also benefit from expanded discounts on public transportation and admission to scenic spots, while transportation hubs and public vehicles are required to reserve designated seating for them.

The regulations also call for a unified assessment system to evaluate elderly individuals' care needs, helping them access services such as home care and long-term insurance.

The new measures have drawn praise from residents like Zhong Lei, 40, who lives in neighboring Nanjing.

"As someone caring for both elderly parents and young children, these regulations are humane and practical," Zhong said. "If my parents are hospitalized, I would feel more at ease knowing I can take time off to care for them personally.

"Therefore, it will be better to take leave and personally care for them, which would provide some peace of mind," he said. "And I hope that not only for the elderly, but also for the parents of young children, there should be provisions for caregiving leave."