Fears of having their salary deducted, dismissal, or of an influence on probation or promotion, are among the reasons for many women in the Chinese workplace today choosing to keep their pregnancy a secret from their employers.
In China, some 62.3 percent of women believe that childbearing is an unavoidable burden for them.
Yet, in recent years, both national and local governments have continuously issued policies to encourage fertility and eliminate discrimination in the workplace. Under such a background, how has pregnancy, a supposed joyous experience, become a secret that some women in the workplace do not want to disclose?
A report published this morning, 27 February, by The Paper, cites the recent experience of serval women in China, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One lady interviewed said, “I got pregnant by accident shortly after getting my job. I was still on probation and afraid of losing the job because of my pregnancy, so I had to hide it from the company at first”.
Over the next few months, she tried to behave as normal. Fortunately, being new in the firm, her colleagues were not familiar with her, so she was able to pass her probation period.
Are Chinese workers obliged to inform their employer as to their pregnancy?
Xue Lu is a lawyer with Beijing Ambo (Zhengzhou) Law Firm. She explained, “Pregnancy is not covered by conditions that workers are obliged to truthfully inform their employer.” Xue also reminded that information regarding fertility falls under personal privacy. Any worker has the right of autonomy when considering whether to inform the employer of their pregnancy.
But keeping a pregnancy hidden also carries certain risks.
Shen Jianfeng, Dean of the Law School at the China Institute of Labour Relations, commented, “If the employer is not informed, they cannot take protective measures for pregnant-female employees as prescribed by law.”
Without their knowledge, an employer can arrange that a female-staff member engage in work at height, in low-temperatures, cold water or other conditions that may endanger the safety of both mother and unborn child.
Back with the potential for discrimination, the newly-revised Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests, implemented on 1 January this year, clearly stipulates that employers shall not inquire or investigate the marriage and childbearing situation of female job seekers.
However, according to the “2022 Survey Report on the Status of Chinese Women in the Workplace”, released by headhunting site, Zhaopin.com, 61.2 percent of women claimed to have been asked about marriage and childbearing during their job searches. A further 38.3 percent were also of the opinion that both marriage and childbearing affected their career prospects.
Nevertheless, China now has an ageing population and having children is naturally being encouraged. Experts suggest that a reasonable childbearing, cost-sharing mechanism should be established, one that presumably can alleviate the concerns of the 62.3 percent.
