China Investigates 16 Companies for Illegally Testing Job Seekers with Pregnancy Tests

By Thea Felicity

Jul 17, 2024 11:11 AM EDT

Jamie Chui has been a virtual prisoner in her Hong Kong home for most of her nine-month pregnancy. Trapped intially by violent pro-democracy protests and tear gas, and then by the coronavirus -- she now faces giving birth alone, with her husband unlikely to see his child until days later.
(Photo : ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Several Chinese companies will be investigated after prosecutors in eastern China accused them of unlawfully subjecting job applicants to pregnancy tests, according to reports from state media shared by CNN.

The investigation, centered in Nantong, Jiangsu province, revealed that 168 women seeking employment were required to undergo these tests as part of their pre-employment medical screenings, a practice prohibited by Chinese law.

Chinese citizens also criticized the case as it presents a contradiction in China's national initiatives to combat declining birth rates, as certain companies seem reluctant to employ women who are pregnant or of childbearing age.

Discrimination Against Chinese Women Jobseekers

Besides taking pregnancy tests, there have been reports of job applicants being questioned about their family planning intentions during interviews or being denied positions even if they do not intend to have children.

These practices raise concerns about potential discrimination based on gender and pregnancy status, which contradicts efforts to promote equal employment opportunities and support population growth initiatives.

Prosecutors have not disclosed the names of the companies involved or specified any penalties imposed. According to Chinese regulations, companies found guilty of gender discrimination can face fines up to 50,000 yuan ($6,900).

Birth Rate in China

China's demographic challenges have intensified in recent years, with its population declining for two consecutive years and 2023 marking the lowest birth rate since the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, according to Statista.

Despite policy shifts aimed at reversing these trends, including the abolishment of the long-standing "one-child" policy in favor of allowing families to have up to three children, the impact has been limited.

The cost of raising children in China remains prohibitively high, with women often experiencing workplace bias when taking maternity leave, contributing to the country's persistently low fertility rates.