Shuntian Chemical Group, a Chinese firm, had grabbed headlines with its bizarre deadline for all single and divorced employees. It had asked them to get married by September or prepare to get their employment terminated.
The company in China’s Shandong province was widely criticised for discriminating against single employees and the policy was labeled as being too invasive. There was public protest and the government intervened. The local human resources and social security bureau investigated the matter and within a day the company withdrew the policy, as per reports by the South China Morning Post.
It was in January that the company came up with the policy that required employees to tie the knot and settle down. The policy was applicable to all those in the 28 to 58 age bracket. The employees were told that those who remained single by March were to submit a letter of self-criticism, while those who failed to tie the knot till June were to submit to an official assessment/evaluation. Those who failed to meet the September deadline were told they would be fired.
The company claimed the policy was in alignment with Chinese values and traditions. The firm justified the policy as its response to the Chinese government’s call to better the marriage rate in the country. This was the company’s way of allowing its employees a chance to prove their loyalty to their country, and fulfil the expectations of their parents and colleagues.
However,it was pointed out to the company that Chinese labour law prohibited firms from questioning the marital status of job seekers /applicants.
