Corporate Pressure Mounts in China: Companies Demand Workers Marry or Leave

As China's birth rates continue to drop, some private companies are pressuring unmarried employees to marry and start families, leading to public outcry over diminishing personal autonomy in a rapidly changing society.

The recent actions of Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group, a chemical manufacturer in China, have raised eyebrows as they mandate unmarried workers to get married and have children by a specified date or face termination. The controversial memo was widely disseminated on social media, emphasizing qualities like hard work and loyalty, while highlighting procreation as a crucial obligation for the country’s future.

This directive is part of a broader trend where companies are influencing personal life decisions to counteract the plummeting birth and marriage rates in China—concerns echoed by the government. A popular supermarket chain also stirred controversy when it advised employees to refrain from soliciting betrothal gifts, aiming to reduce wedding expenses.

These attempts, however, have met with backlash. Many young Chinese are opting out of marriage and family life, citing economic pressures and a growing desire for independence. A staggering drop was noted last year, with only 6.1 million marriages registered — a 20 percent fall from 2022, the lowest since government records began in 1986.

This situation is compounded further by a worrying decline in China's population, which has seen consecutive drops over three years. The imposition of personal life choices by employers not only ignites debates about the rights of workers but also poses questions about cultural shifts in modern China, where autonomy is becoming increasingly valued over traditional familial responsibilities.