The hiring contract of a communications company in Chongqing City stipulates that, “due to the demands of the job, female employees are not to be married in the next three years, and not have a child in the next five years.”
Some new college graduates unwillingly agree to sign the contract due to the difficult job market. Attorneys express that the contract is invalid because the hiring company is suspected of violating the Marriage Law and women’s childbearing rights.
Ms. Li Na, a recent graduate from the physics department of Southwestern University, had eight job interviews within a week. Later that week, one of the companies offered her a position and gave her a contract with the marriage and childbearing stipulation attached as an appendix.
Ms. Li said that though she found the appendix ridiculous, her disappointing job hunting experience left her no other choice. After a mental battle, she signed the contract the next day. Her monthly salary starts at 1,500 yuan (US$ 203.20), plus commission.
According to the company manager Mr. Yang, the appendix is something the company has to resort to because many new female employees were outstanding until they got married or had a child, causing the sales revenue to drop significantly.
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