Chinese companies criticised after demanding female staff ‘book’ maternity leave years ahead
China National Radio says firms are breaking the law by requiring employees to follow ‘second-child’ timetables
PUBLISHED : Monday, 11 January, 2016, 2:36pm
UPDATED : Monday, 11 January, 2016, 2:49pm
Gloria Chan
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The mainland relaxed its one-child policy at the start of the year. Photos: Xinhua
China National Radio criticised companies for establishing “second-child timetables” for their staff and asking employees to submit applications for having a second child at least one year in advance.
The mainland on January 1 relaxed its population-control policies, allowing all couples to have two children.
According to the radio report, companies in several provinces including Jilin and Shandong are asking women employees who want to become pregnant to do so at specific times, and submit applications. Otherwise, they would have to wait until other staff had their babies and a “window” opened. Some women say they have booked out times as far in advance as 2018.
Companies responded by saying that if a large number of staff took maternity leave at the same time, business would suffer.
The commentary by China National Radio slammed the companies as being “unlawful, unreasonable, and heartless” for setting up the timetable.
It added that under mainland law employers did not have a right to interfere in women employees’ reproduction.
