No Kid, No Pay

A Chinese chemical company this month rescinded a controversial policy that threatened unmarried or divorced employees with termination if they remained single by the end of September, after facing public fury and government intervention in a case that highlighted China’s worries over its demographic challenges, the South China Morning Post reported.

Last month, the Shuntian Chemical Group in eastern China announced the policy as part of an effort to increase marriage rates among its staff. The company, which employs more than 1,200 people, warned unmarried and divorced workers that they were required to “resolve (their) personal marriage issues” by Sept. 30.

Those who failed to do so would first be required to submit a written self-criticism, then undergo an internal evaluation, and ultimately face termination if they remained unmarried.

The notice also criticized employees for “not responding to the national call” to marry and have children, as well as accusing them of being “disloyal and disobedient to parental advice.”

Chinese netizens quickly slammed the announcement, prompting officials from the local human resources and social security bureau to visit the firm earlier this month.

Authorities ruled that the policy violated Chinese labor laws, leading the company to withdraw it.

A company representative told NBC News that the notice was withdrawn “because some of the words used were inappropriate.”

Legal analysts said that Chinese companies are not supposed to ask job applicants about plans for marriage or childbirth under the country’s labor laws. However, violations occur, they added.

Over the past few years, the Chinese government has been trying to encourage young people to get married and have children because the country faces a severe demographic crisis.

Last year, China saw the number of marriages drop by a fifth to 6.1 million, a record low compared with 7.68 million a year earlier. Birth rates have also been falling.

In 2023, India surpassed China as the world’s most populous country.

Authorities have introduced a series of measures to address the crisis, including financial incentives to encourage marriage, a proposal to lower the legal age of marriage to 18 years of age, and even creating a university degree in marriage.

The legal age for marriage in China is 22 for men and 20 for women.

Even so, many social media users question whether lowering the marriage age will help, with some noting the high unemployment rate among the young.