A Chinese company, Shuntian Chemical Group, sparked outrage after enforcing a policy requiring single and divorced employees aged 28 to 58 to marry by September 2025 or risk losing their jobs. The policy outlined a series of escalating penalties, starting with self-criticism letters in March, performance evaluations in June, and potential termination by September for those who remained unmarried.
Company officials claimed the policy was meant to encourage employees to embrace traditional family values. However, it was met with widespread criticism, prompting intervention from local labor authorities, who deemed the rule illegal. Facing mounting pressure, the company eventually retracted the policy.
This incident highlights China’s ongoing struggle with declining marriage rates, which have significantly dropped in recent years. The controversy adds to the broader national discussion on efforts to boost marriage and birth rates in the country.
