Chinese Company Sparks Outrage Over ‘Marry or Be Fired’ Policy, Forced to Backtrack

A company in China has come under fire after introducing a shocking policy that threatened to dismiss single and divorced employees who failed to marry by September. The policy, implemented by Shuntian Chemical Group in Shandong province, was quickly withdrawn following public outrage and government intervention, reported the South China Morning Post.

In January, Shuntian Chemical Group rolled out a policy targeting employees aged 28 to 58, demanding that they “get married and settle down” by September. Those who remained unmarried by March were required to submit a self-criticism letter, while employees still single by June faced an evaluation. The company warned that those who failed to meet the deadline would be dismissed.

Justifying the policy, the company cited traditional Chinese values, stating, “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.”

The policy triggered immediate backlash, with critics slamming it as invasive and discriminatory. On February 13, the local human resources and social security bureau inspected the company, leading to the policy’s withdrawal within a day. The company also confirmed that no employees had been fired due to their marital status.

Legal experts condemned the move, calling it unconstitutional. Yan Tian, an associate professor at Peking University Law School, told The Beijing News that the policy violated the right to marry freely. He also pointed out that under China’s labor laws, companies cannot question job applicants about their marriage or childbirth plans—though such practices remain widespread. A government official further confirmed that the policy breached China’s Labour Law and Labour Contract Law.

The announcement sparked a heated debate online. One social media user fumed, “This crazy company should mind its own business and stay away from employees’ personal lives.” Another added, “Let them go ahead and fire people. Those affected can just apply for arbitration and get a hefty compensation.” A third skeptically asked, “Will they punish married employees for not having children next?”

The controversy comes amid China’s declining marriage rates. In 2023, the number of marriages fell to 6.1 million, a 20.5% drop from the previous year’s 7.68 million. However, the country recorded 9.54 million newborns in 2024, marking the first rise in birth rates since 2017. Demographer He Yafu of the YuWa Population Research Institute attributed the increase to families choosing to have children in the auspicious Year of the Dragon.

To counter falling marriage rates, some local governments have introduced incentives. In Shanxi province, for instance, one city now offers a 1,500 yuan (US$200) reward to couples who marry for the first time before turning 35.