(ECNS) - China’s nine central government departments have released a new guideline to further prevent discrimination against women in the job market.
When looking for a new employee, employers cannot restrict nor reject women based on their gender, unless in some occupations required to do so by a state decree, according to the guideline, introduced by a collection of departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Welfare and Ministry of Education.
Employers should not ask potential female employees about their plans to be married or have children, and any job related health tests should not test for pregnancy, the guideline said.
Employers will be summoned for a talk with authorities and urged to change their employment practices if they are found to have engaged in gender discrimination. Judicial assistance will be provided to women who suffer from gender discrimination in the process of looking for a job.
The guideline also pledges further efforts to support women’s employment by offering targeted training and encouraging the development of childcare services for under-threes so mothers can pursue their careers.
More efforts were needed to launch awareness campaigns to gradually eliminate gender prejudice and guide society as a whole to further respect women, the guideline said.
