Women's Labor Rights: Wuhan Approves New, Far-Reaching Regulations

A new set of labor protection regulations for female workers was approved in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on June 8. The move strengthens protection for women in the city, especially during special times such as pregnancy and menopause.

The regulations stipulate that the employer shall not arrange for pregnant female employees to do outdoor work at a temperature above 35 degrees centigrade; the employer shall not prolong labor hours or arrange night shifts for female employees in or after 28 weeks of pregnancy; the employer shall transfer pregnant women to other positions or approve leave if they are feeling strained by their current work.

In addition, when female employees take leave in or after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the employer shall pay a monthly salary equal to three quarters of their average monthly salaries during the 12 months before leave, and be banned from reducing their salaries below a minimum standard level.

In terms of maternity leave, female workers between the ages of 20 and 23 will be granted 98 days of maternity leave for childbirth; an extra maternity leave of 15 days shall be granted in case of prolonged labor; female employees who bear more than one baby in a single birth shall be granted an extra maternity leave of 15 days for each additional baby born; "late childbirth" women (women who get married after the age of 23) will be given 128 days of maternity leave; and women's spouses will be given 10 days of nursing leave.

The discrepancy in maternity leave time is a means of providing an incentive for late marriage and late pregnancy, both of which tend to correlate with better prenatal and postnatal care, and better overall parenting and care for children.

In addition, female employers who miscarry within 12 weeks of pregnancy will be granted 30 days of maternity leave; those between 12 weeks and 28 weeks will be granted 45 days of leave; those above 28 weeks will be granted 98 days of leave.

Plus, employers shall, within the labor hours every day, arrange one hour of breastfeeding time for female employees with babies below 1 year old.

For menopausal women, if they are incapable of fulfilling their jobs, employers shall enter a negotiation with them to adjust their work as well as their wages in accordance with the changed labor contract and the salary system at the relevant workplace.

To prevent and curb sexual assault against female employees, the new regulations stipulate that the employer and relevant organizations shall protect women's personal information when handling their complaints.

The regulations also prohibit discrimination against female employees in job promotion, professional title appraisal and salary adjustment.

Employers that violate the regulations will be given punishment; those who cause harm to women will have to compensate in accordance with the law and their direct chief or other persons in charge will be given disciplinary sanctions; those whose acts constitute a crime will be given criminal sanctions.

It is reported that the interim regulations, formulated in 1987, have been abolished.

(Source: people.com.cn/Translated and edited by Women of China)