With the objective of allowing single Chinese women to find partners, two Chinese companies have introduced eight additional ‘dating leaves’ in their annual leave policy.
Hangzhou Songcheng Performance and Hangzhou Songcheng Tourism Management, are the two companies that have launched this unique leave policy for the women in their workforce who are above the age of 30 so that they can go on dates.
This unique eight-day leave will come into effect from February 5, 2019, which is the Chinese New Year.
The privileged is chiefly aimed at women employees who are mostly engaged in departments that are not customer facing, and therefore, have little opportunity to move out and interact with the world outside. The new ‘dating leave’ will give them a chance to meet men and interact with them, and even find life partners if possible.
It is reported that a school in Hangzhou, China introduced a similar leave — two days a month— for its unmarried teachers so that they can relax, de-stress and find companionship.
In Chinese culture, women staying single in their 30s or even late 20s are considered ‘leftover’ and therefore, their marriage prospects are also considerably reduced.
With more and more young women in China focussing on their careers rather than on settling down and raising families, the birth rate has also come down in the country.
