Beijing, September 28 (Reporter Wang Jing) In the multiple contexts of the "three-child" birth policy, the protection of the rights and interests of women and children in China has attracted more and more attention.
A few days ago, the State Council issued the "China Women's Development Program (2021-2030)" and "China Children's Development Program (2021-2030)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Women's Program" and "Children's Program" respectively), Huang Xiaowei, deputy director of the State Council Women's and Children's Working Committee, secretary of the party group of the All-China Women's Federation, vice chairman, and first secretary of the Secretariat, said that the new women's development program advocates men and women to share household chores and family responsibilities for old-age care and childcare.
On July 14, 2020, in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, kindergarten children were running around piles. (Image source: cfp)
The implementation of parental leave may be expected to be implemented as soon as possible
Data from the Seventh National Population Census show that there are currently 494 million households in China. Under the new situation, the family size and family structure have gradually taken on new characteristics.
As a result, the family field is facing many new situations and new problems. "For example, the problem of balancing the relationship between family and career, the problem of increasing divorce rate, the problem of lack of family guardianship of children, the problem of misunderstandings in parenting concepts of parents, and the problem of incomplete parent-child relationship." Huang Xiaowei said.
Based on this, the above two programs have put forward new requirements for the construction of family teaching style and the development of women and children. The reporter noted that the highlight of the new "two programs" this time is the addition of two parts: "women and family building" and "children and families." The addition of these two areas, in which the important position and role of the family, is highlighted.
Take parental leave, which many parents are most concerned about, for example.
Previous surveys have shown that "no one to bring a child" is one of the main reasons why many young families are unwilling to have children and dare not have children. In this regard, Yu Yanhong, member of the party group of the National Health Commission, secretary of the party group and deputy director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said at a press conference held by the State New Office on September 17 that the new "two programs" clearly propose the implementation of the maternity leave system and birth allowances, explore the implementation of parental leave for parents, and strengthen support policies such as housing, encourage employers to establish mother and baby rooms and childcare care service facilities, and implement flexible family-friendly measures such as flexible working hours and home office.
For example, the Regulations on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests revised by the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 2019 clearly stipulate that employers are encouraged to give both husband and wife 10 days of joint parental leave each year during the period of 0-3 years of age for couples who have children in accordance with laws and regulations, and carry out the exploration of parental leave.
Therefore, based on the above experience, Yu Yanhong said that state-owned enterprises and other entities are encouraged to actively participate in the construction of inclusive childcare service systems promoted by governments at all levels, support and guide social forces to rely on communities to provide inclusive childcare services, encourage and support qualified kindergartens to enroll 2-3-year-old children, and formulate family childcare point management methods.
Yantai City, Shandong Province, at the "Spring Breeze to Send Jobs" women's special job fair, job seeker Chu Yang held his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter in search of employment opportunities (Source: cfp)
Discrimination against women in employment? Official: Resolutely correct the investigation
In addition to childcare, some women are discriminated against in employment, which is also explicitly mentioned in the Women's Platform. The reporter noted that it was mentioned that the employing units suspected of gender discrimination in the recruitment and recruitment links should be jointly interviewed and punished according to law. Employers are prohibited from reducing wages, maliciously transferring jobs, dismissing female employees, or terminating labor (employment) contracts because of their pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
This signal continues to be released, and the recent national "14th Five-Year Plan" employment promotion plan also put forward clear requirements for this. In this regard, Li Zhong, vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, as a constituent department of the Working Committee for Women and Children of the State Council, will strengthen the supervision of the human resources market and labor supervision and law enforcement, resolutely correct and punish the behavior of publishing recruitment information containing gender discrimination, and effectively protect women's equal employment rights and interests.
In addition, migrant women are encouraged to return to their hometowns to start their own businesses, and women who are willing to go to the countryside to start a business are supported. Support the development of the traditional handicraft industry of nationalities, and promote the local employment of women of all ethnic groups. In terms of strengthening women's vocational skills training, the reporter learned from the press conference of the State Council New Office that the lifelong vocational skills training system will be improved and vigorously cultivate knowledge-based, skilled, and entrepreneurial female workers.
Li Zhong revealed that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, large-scale vocational training will continue to be carried out. Among them, we will carry out skills training for practitioners in new formats suitable for women's characteristics, strengthen the professional knowledge of female professional and technical personnel, innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance women's employment and entrepreneurship capabilities.
Infographic (Image source: cfp)
Strictly handle major and vicious cases involving domestic violence
When it comes to women, domestic violence is one of the most concerned topics.
In view of domestic violence, which is known as the "cancer" of modern civilized society, the Women's Program clearly states in this regard: Advocate the equal participation of husband and wife in decision-making in family affairs and oppose all forms of domestic violence.
In fact, many women choose to continue to endure due to multiple pressures and are not brave enough. Some endure for decades.
It is worth mentioning that the "Women's Program" clearly puts forward: anti-domestic violence is regarded as an important part of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, and the attitude of "zero tolerance" for domestic violence clearly proposes the in-depth implementation of the anti-domestic violence law to prevent and stop all forms of domestic violence against women. According to another reporter's information from the press conference, the Ministry of Public Security will pursue criminal responsibility for perpetrators who constitute crimes in accordance with the law and strictly handle major and vicious cases. Carry out follow-up visits to domestic violence cases to strictly prevent the recurrence of domestic violence.
Li Jingsheng, director of the Public Security Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, told reporters that in terms of increasing the intensity of handling, it is proposed to increase the intensity of police work, carry out special statistics on the situation of domestic violence police, and issue warning letters, "timely issue personal safety protection orders, increase the rate of review and issuance, increase enforcement, strengthen the management of emergency shelters, and improve the level of shelter services." Li Jingsheng said.