A Chinese company, Shuntian Chemical Group, located in Shandong province, faced severe backlash after introducing a controversial policy aimed at increasing its employees’ marriage rate. The policy, implemented in January, targeted single and divorced employees aged 28 to 58. It required them to marry by the end of September, with escalating consequences for those who failed to comply. Employees who were still unmarried by March had to submit self-criticism letters, and those who remained single by June would undergo an evaluation. If they did not marry by the deadline, they risked being fired.
Controversial Company Policy on Marital Status Sparks Legal Backlash and Criticism
The company justified the policy by promoting traditional Chinese values like loyalty, filial piety, and benevolence, claiming that not adhering to these ideals was disloyal, unfilial, and unjust. However, the policy sparked widespread criticism, both locally and online, leading to an inspection by the local human resources and social security bureau. Within a day, Shuntian Chemical Group withdrew the policy and assured the public that no employees had been dismissed for their marital status.
Legal experts quickly denounced the policy, pointing out that it violated China’s labor laws, which protect individuals’ freedom to marry. Yan Tian, a law professor at Peking University, emphasized that the policy breached both constitutional and labor rights, as companies are prohibited from inquiring about employees’ marital status or reproductive plans.
Controversy Over Company Policy Amid China’s Declining Marriage Rates
The incident stirred online debate, with some users expressing their displeasure, questioning the company’s overreach into employees’ private lives. Others joked about the possibility of further penalties for married employees without children. This controversy occurred amidst a broader trend of declining marriage rates in China, where the number of marriages dropped significantly last year. In response, some local governments have introduced incentives to encourage marriage, such as offering monetary rewards for first-time marriages.
