1/ CLB investigated three cases of #women workers in #China facing #discrimination and rights violations related to #maternityleave. We found these incidents through local governments' online message boards and referred the cases to the union. Read more: clb.org.hk/content/three-… 
2/ Regarding family leave policies, the ACFTU has the opportunity to ensure both that workers' rights are protected and that state policy goals are upheld, contributing to the union’s political and practical missions. However, in these three cases, the union was not eager to act.
3/ The ACFTU’s Charter requires all levels of the union to est women workers’ committees, which should conduct research, draft policies, and advise on legislation concerning the rights of women workers. In CLB's investigations, however, these committees were not easily reachable.
4/ First, a teacher in Anhui pointed out that a local teacher selection and promotion process discriminates against teachers who take maternity leave, running counter to state policy encouraging births. She wrote, "[Under this policy] who would dare to give birth?”
5/ Second, a pregnant worker in Zhengzhou was only granted half the maternity leave allowed, writing: "My company does not recognise the relevant regulations." We thought the union could easily provide her with the official policy documents, but they said they were understaffed.
6/ Third, a worker at a medical tech company in Zhuhai was not paid wages or benefits during her maternity leave starting in June 2022, and in September she posted online saying she was owed over 21,600 yuan. The union refused to give us the number for their women workers' cmte.
7/ China’s young women face high pressures from the state and society: reproductive labour to alleviate the population crisis; unpaid domestic labour including caring for relatives; and paid labour to raise the GDP and domestic consumption. #InternationalWomensDay
8/ Gender inequality already permeates the workplace, with marriage and family being common reasons for employment discrim. Recent policy changes support the national goal to increase the birth rate, but employers fail to follow those policies, such as for maternity leave.
9/ When workers' rights are violated, they have few options for justice. Furthermore, China’s official trade union has been silent on infringement of women’s rights and interests at work. We call on the union and its special committees to do better. clb.org.hk/content/three-…
end/ #InternationalWomensDay2023 For more information from China Labour Bulletin on on gender discrimination and employment in China, check out some additional recent articles found on our topic page: clb.org.hk/tags/gender-di…
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