A forum recently held in Shanghai indicated that women in the field of science and research based in the city are debunking the trend of male dominance. (Photo : Reuters)
Shanxi Province in North China will implement a new set of women’s labor rights laws that allow menopausal women to ask for work adjustments to better accommodate their condition. The new law will come into force starting October of this year.
Aside from being the first women's labor law passed in Shanxi Province, it is also the first law of its kind in China to give menopausal workers certain privileges.
A press event was organized by Shanxi Province's People's Congress on Aug. 28 to better explain the implementation of the regional law. According to Wu Jingwen, vice chairperson of the Internal and Legal Affairs Committee of the legislature, the new women's labor rights law shall be implemented in both public and private organizations.
Provincial lawmakers started to work on the menopause article after public surveys revealed the strong demand from female workers for menopausal rights.
Organizations need not to worry about the costs as the protections entailed in the menopause article are basic and do not cost much or cost nothing at all, according to Wu.
The labor rights law will simply require public and private organizations to provide a better workplace and encourage female employees to work positively.
Another provision of the labor rights law gives women certain rights during special incidences such as pregnancy, menstruation, labor and breastfeeding. Employers are also required to provide mother-child nursing rooms for their female workers.
To guarantee that the law will be enforced, the article mentions that "governments above county levels should include the indicator or female employees' labor protection into the social credit system and take measures to protect their legitimate rights."
The year 1988 saw the adoption of China's first national women's labor rights law, which enabled female employees to receive special privileges according to their physical conditions. The law was later revised in 2012 to include the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.
