Fujian province is allowing women, who give birth to a second child under China's new second-child policy, 98 days of maternity leave, Fujian provincial Health and Family Planning Commission said on April 3.

It further explained that the preferential treatment for late marriage and late childbirth leave, which the State Council specified should last from 135 to 180 days, is not applicable for those who give birth to a second child under the new second-child policy.

Anyone who wants to consult details concerning Fujian's second-child policy can call 968111, a hot line provided by Fujian's local media. Officials from Fujian provincial Health and Family Planning Commission will give further explanations.

China's family planning policy, put in place in the late 1970s, is designed to curb population growth. Under a decision made by the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China's 18th Central Committee in Nov 2013, couples are allowed to have a second baby if either parent is an only child. Fujian province officially eased its family planning policy on Mar 31.

Many provinces, including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Guangdong and Jiangsu, as well as the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing have also changed their policies.

By Lu Ting from Fujian Bureau

Edited by Zhao Qian and Brain Salter