China’s labour unions push for fairer hiring practices for women

Several labour unions in China, including those in Hunan and Shenzhen, have issued directives aimed at eliminating discriminatory hiring practices against women, specifically the requirement to disclose marital and childbearing status. The move, widely circulated on social media, signals a potential shift in workplace dynamics and addresses growing concerns about gender inequality in China.

Official notices posted on the WeChat pages of the state-backed unions in Shenzhen, Hunan, and Qinghai mandate that organisations cease the practice of questioning female jobseekers about their personal family plans. This intervention comes as it has become increasingly commonplace for employers in China to inquire about these matters during recruitment processes, creating a climate of fear and potentially deterring women from pursuing career advancement.

The directives are seen as a response to the declining birth rate in China, a critical issue for the authorities. While the government has introduced various incentives to encourage births, the persistence of traditional gender roles, where women are primarily seen as caregivers, has hindered progress.

The Hunan Federation of Trade Unions’ notice explicitly states that employers should not prioritise male candidates and must refrain from inquiring about or investigating the marital and childbearing status of female applicants. Furthermore, employment contracts are prohibited from including restrictions on marriage and childbirth. The notice also safeguards female employees from dismissal or salary reductions due to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

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“Employers shall not further inquire or investigate the marital and childbearing status of female jobseekers,” the Hunan notice emphasised, signalling a firm stance against discriminatory questioning.

While many netizens have welcomed the union’s intervention as a step towards greater equality, scepticism remains. Some expressed concerns that employers may simply avoid hiring women altogether to circumvent potential complications. “Discrimination still exists, and they will still refuse to hire you because of concerns about your marriage and childbearing,” one user commented, reported Reuters.

The notices also underscore the broader societal tension between the demand for women to contribute to the workforce and the expectation that they fulfill traditional family roles. “In the workplace, women are required to not have children but society requires women to have more children. After having children, women are required to take care of children and the family while earning money in society. Isn’t this contradictory?”