BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) — When a woman surnamed Hu from central China's Henan Province filed for divorce in 2024, she sought 50,000 yuan (about 7,043 U.S. dollars) in compensation for years of household labor, a request that was ultimately granted as part of a court-mediated settlement.
Hu and her husband, surnamed Wang, married in 2011. However, differences in personality, lifestyle and parenting views drove them apart over time, with their arguments becoming routine.
In October 2022, after another heated quarrel, Hu moved out of their home, marking the start of their separation. Two years later, in December 2024, she filed for divorce at the People's Court of Zhongyuan District in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, seeking to end the marriage to Wang, gain custody of their daughter, and divide shared property and debts.
Notably, Hu also asked the court to order Wang to pay 50,000 yuan in recognition of her years of housework.
She said that throughout the marriage, she had shouldered most domestic duties, caring for their daughter and handling daily chores, while claiming that Wang had failed to contribute his share. She believed her unseen labor deserved formal acknowledgment.
During the trial, the presiding judge, Li Xiaoling, noted that both parties had agreed to divorce. The court then turned to child custody, asset division and Hu's compensation claim.
"Household labor is no less demanding than working outside the home," Li said. "Yet for too long, it has often been overlooked and taken for granted." She added that in many households, women bear the bulk of domestic tasks — contributions that, while vital to family stability, often go unseen.
Li affirmed the value of Hu's efforts and emphasized that individuals like her are entitled to appropriate compensation for years of domestic work as stipulated by law.
According to Article 1088 of China's Civil Code, which took effect in 2021, where one spouse bears more obligations in raising children, caring for the elderly, and assisting the other in work, he or she has the right to request compensation when they divorce, and the other spouse shall make such compensation.
This case reflects China's broader commitment to strengthening legal protections for women's rights and interests. The country has established a legal system anchored by its national constitution, centered on the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, and supported by over 100 laws and regulations. It has also taken resolute actions to combat illegal acts that infringe upon the personal rights of women and girls.
This system includes the Civil Code, which features a "Marriage and Family" section with improved mechanisms for the identification and settlement of marital debts — and economic compensation for domestic work in the event of divorce proceedings.
Similarly, the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests has a special chapter aimed at protecting women's rights and interests relating to marriage and family. It stipulates that a wife who takes on greater responsibilities — such as caring for children or elderly relatives, or supporting her husband's work, is entitled to seek compensation upon divorce.
This type of progress at home aligns well with China's growing role in advancing gender equality worldwide. The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, which was held in Beijing this week, came as China continues to step up related initiatives.
Over the past three decades, the country has made historic strides in advancing women's development — lifting women out of poverty, expanding their roles across economic and decision-making spheres, and embedding gender equality into national development strategies.
After several rounds of talks, Hu and Wang managed to reach a mediation agreement earlier this year. They agreed to divorce, with custody of their daughter going to Hu and Wang providing monthly child support. Wang retained the family home and car.
In addition, Wang agreed to pay Hu a lump sum of 250,000 yuan, which included 50,000 yuan as compensation for household labor and 200,000 yuan from the division of marital assets.
Hu's case is not unique. The first such ruling was issued by the People's Court of Fangshan District in Beijing in February 2021, just one month after the Civil Code took effect. In that case, the husband was ordered to pay his wife 50,000 yuan for household labor.
Since then, courts across several provinces and regions, including Henan, Shandong in east China and northwest China's Xinjiang, have issued similar rulings, compensating wives who did the majority of housework during marriage.
In a smaller number of cases, husbands who served as primary homemakers also received compensation under the same legal provision of the Civil Code.
These rulings have sparked widespread discussion online. While some question how to quantify domestic contributions and determine compensation amounts, most public reactions have been positive. Many praise the policy for acknowledging women's often-invisible domestic efforts and for strengthening protection of their rights in marriage — particularly for those without independent income.
"The compensation itself is a sign of progress, but we still have a long way to go," read one comment under a China Youth Daily report on the topic in May.
Li noted that the household labor compensation provision in the Civil Code has helped clarify the value of domestic work, giving the more burdened spouse the right to financial redress in divorce cases.
She added that the provision encourages families to share domestic duties, promotes mutual respect between spouses, reduces discriminatory attitudes among breadwinners, and helps foster more harmonious and stable households.
(Source: Xinhua)
Editor: Wang Shasha
