Chinese government push for better maternity leave met with shrugs or concerns it will promote discrimination against women
- About a dozen regional governments have extended maternity allowances in the past month
- But some women say it will just push companies to hire more men or dissuade women from having children
A dozen regional governments in China have lengthened maternity leave allowances in the past month to incentivise families to have more children amid concerns of an impending demographic crisis.
In Beijing, officials added 60 days to maternity leave effective from November 26, bringing the total to 158. Furthermore, the mother can take an additional one to three months of leave if the boss allows. Paternity leave in the city remained at 15 days.
Beijing also passed a new policy that would allow parents to take a total of 5 days for a “parenting break” every year until their children turn three. 10 other provinces passed similar measures, ranging from five to 15 days.
In eastern China’s Zhejiang province, a November 15 update provided women with an extra 60 days for their first children and 90 more days for a second or third.
In Chongqing municipality, the government said on November 15 that one parent could take leave for an entire year if they wanted.
The policy push was met with a shrug by some, and voices of concern by others.