China's current Labor Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that female employees who give birth can enjoy maternity leave ranging from 98 days to 158 days. Among them, the prenatal leave is 15 days, and the dystocia is increased by 15 days; Maternity leave is 98 days, and for infants under 4 months of age, female employees are entitled to 3 months of breastfeeding leave.
Recommendations
At the 2023 National People's Congress and the National People's Congress, some committee members suggested extending paid maternity leave for women. Recommendations include:
Extension of maternity leave to one year for female employees;
Extend parental leave from the current 15 days to 30 days and be shared by both spouses;
Longer paid maternity leave is granted to families with three children.
Supporting Rationale
Proponents argue that extending paid maternity leave for women has the following benefits:
Beneficial for the physical recovery and mental health of the mother;
Conducive to the healthy growth of the baby;
It is conducive to improving women's fertility willingness and alleviating the problem of population aging;
Contribute to gender equality and social equity.
Dissenting opinions
Opponents argue that extending paid parental leave for women increases costs for businesses, leads to employment discrimination against women, and exacerbates social inequality.
There has been no official response to this suggestion.
Extending paid parental leave for women is a complex issue with multiple interests involved. It remains to be seen whether this recommendation will be adopted in the future.