Fired for Being Single? China Firm Faces Outrage

A Chinese company recently came under fire for introducing a policy that required single and divorced employees to marry by September or face termination. Following public backlash and government intervention, the company was forced to revoke the policy.

Company’s Unusual Marriage Policy

Shuntian Chemical Group, a company based in Shandong province, implemented this rule in January 2025, aiming to increase the marriage rate among its employees. According to reports, the policy targeted single and divorced employees between the ages of 28 and 58.
The company instructed employees to “get married and settle down” by September. Those who remained unmarried by March were required to submit a self-criticism letter, while those still single by June had to undergo an evaluation. Employees who failed to marry by the final deadline faced termination.

Company’s Justification for the Policy

Shuntian Chemical Group defended its decision by citing traditional Chinese values, including loyalty and filial piety. In a statement, the company asserted that remaining single was a sign of disloyalty and lack of social responsibility.
The announcement further stated, “Not responding to the government’s call to improve the marriage rate is disloyal. Not listening to your parents is not filial. Letting yourself be single is not benevolent. Failing your colleagues’ expectations is unjust.”

Public Outcry and Government Response

The policy sparked widespread criticism online, many calling it an invasion of personal freedom. Social media users condemned the company for interfering in employees’ private lives. Some questioned whether the company would next penalize married employees for not having children.
As the backlash intensified, the local human resources and social security bureau inspected on February 13. Within a day, the company withdrew the policy and assured authorities that no employees had been dismissed due to their marital status.

Legal Experts Condemn the Policy

Legal professionals and scholars strongly opposed the policy, stating that it violated constitutional rights. Yan Tian, an associate professor at Peking University Law School, explained that the policy restricted individuals’ freedom of marriage. He also pointed out that, under China’s labour laws, companies are prohibited from inquiring about employees’ marriage or childbirth plans, though such practices still occur in some workplaces.
Government officials confirmed that the policy breached China’s Labour Law and Labour Contract Law, reinforcing that employment decisions should not be based on marital status.

Declining Marriage Rates in China

This controversy comes at a time when China is experiencing a significant decline in marriage rates. In 2024, the number of marriages dropped to 6.1 million, reflecting a 20.5% decrease from the previous year’s 7.68 million. Despite this decline, the country recorded 9.54 million newborns in 2024, marking the first increase in birth rates since 2017.
Experts attribute the rise in births to cultural factors, such as the preference for having children in the Year of the Dragon. To counter the declining marriage trend, some local governments have introduced incentives. For example, a city in Shanxi province now offers a financial reward of 1,500 yuan (approximately US$200) to couples who marry for the first time before the age of 35.

Conclusion

The withdrawal of Shuntian Chemical Group’s policy highlights the importance of protecting employees’ rights in the workplace. While the company claimed to support traditional values, legal experts and the public overwhelmingly rejected the move as an unjustified intrusion into private lives. This case also underscores the broader social challenge of declining marriage rates in China, prompting discussions on how to address the issue without infringing on individual freedoms

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.