Employer orders: Get Married or Get Out

[MsAmerica]

Chinese Company to Single Workers: Get Married or Get Out
As China’s government worries about the falling birthrate, some private employers have ordered workers to do their part, or else.
By Vivian Wang

The ideal worker at the Chinese chemical manufacturer, according to the internal memo, is hardworking, virtuous and loyal. And — perhaps most important — willing to have children for the good of the country.

That was the message that the company, Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group, sent to unmarried employees recently, in a notice that spread widely on social media. It instructed them to start families by Sept. 30, or else.

“If you cannot get married and start a family within three quarters, the company will terminate your labor contract,” the memo said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/world/asia/china-marriage-companies-childbirth.html

It's good to see their workers have fought back, imagine losing your job because you wouldn't marry and have DC on your employers say so. It sounds more like a Cult than a job 😂

Well yes, this is life under communism where the state controls your life, freedom and choices. It’s appalling

Horrific.

I'm no fan of communist authoritarianism, but this is a private company partly funded by venture capital (according to it's website). I think it's hard to describe China as communist anymore, it's just an authoritarian one-party state.

Horrible
But at least it seems to discriminate "fairly" - i.e. not just against women!

I’m been wondering what Western governments are going to do to ‘incentivise’ child-bearing when they finally get round to it. Because they will. Hopefully it won’t just be ‘you’re fired!’ 😳

Agenda isn’t compatible with inflexible working, cost of childcare etc far less insistence on continuity of being productive economic unit plus able to deliver care to family and friends in tap with vague support.

China is not and never has been Communist. Just because something is labelled doesn't make the label true.

Dare I ask what about gay couples? Genuinely don’t know China’s record on gay rights (suspect it isn’t sparkling)

Historically, it's been pretty common for groups to at the same time be blase about same sex arrangements (or extra-marital arrangements), while also expecting people to 'do their duty" for family and society and marry and have kids. It all looks quite different when marriage is more about social obligations.

Really interesting, thanks TempestTost

Swings and roundabouts. China had a 1 child only policy from 1979 to 2015 because of over population, then they were allowed 2 and then 3.

same problem everywhere, falling birthrate, increasing ageing population, less workers. Elon Musk is saying the same thing, now we have something like birthrate wars!

Once they work out the best contraceptive is educating women it will be interesting to see the next move.

It's not necessarily a matter of communism. Some American politicians want to prioritize women with children. Vice president Vance has said that perhaps childless women shouldn't be allowed to vote, or should have their votes count less.

Exactly right. As women's education is more available, birth rates go down.

Vice president Vance has said that perhaps childless women shouldn't be allowed to vote, or should have their votes count less.

Whaaat!?

The employer might address the working hours they impose. 6 day weeks and 10 or even 12 hour days are common in China. Hardly family friendly.

only a man could say that!!

Maybe if the us government offered more than 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave & better maternity health provision (the US ranks 55 in the world for maternal mortality, the worst of any developed nation), women might be able and want children.

This is the same China that had a one-child policy until about thirty seconds ago? Backed up with forced abortions?

Why aren't we offering Chinese women asylum?

One need look only at Afghanistan, another country whose women we should offer asylum to.

And childless men?

Bypass the authwall: archive.is/3lYKV

Apparently they're fine with childless men. All men are acceptable. Just not women. Some people are more equal than others.

Not really, as actually having the children and most of the associated effort will fall to women.

A currently childless man could become a dad in 9 months and then walk straight back into work the next day (or even the same day) and continue as though nothing had changed; how many women can do that?

So any female employees who do submit to the company's will and 'do their duty' in having children will be fully supported with child-friendly policies such as flexible/part-time working and parental leave for when their children are ill, will they...?

True, obviously, but the company itself isn t discriminating, as many would have done in the past.