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Company Generated Outrage By Imposing That Single Employees Aged 28 To 58 Marry By September Or Lose Their Jobs! The Decision Caused Controversy And Went Viral, Forcing Authorities To Intervene.
A company located in the industrial region of Shandong, in China, caused great controversy by imposing an unusual requirement on its employees: all single employees aged 28 to 58 were required to marry by September 2025 or face termination.
The decision generated strong repercussions on social media and attracted the attention of local authorities, resulting in the revocation of the measure in February this year for violating Chinese labor laws.
An Attempt To Curb Population Decline
The drastic measure adopted by Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group is part of a broader context of concern among the Chinese government regarding the aging population.
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The country has been facing a sharp decline in the birth rate, exacerbated by historical factors such as the one-child policy (1980-2015) and rapid urbanization.
Currently, China has about 1.4 billion inhabitants, but is aging rapidly.
Projections indicate that, in the next ten years, approximately 300 million Chinese will reach retirement age, a figure equivalent to the total population of the United States.
With fewer young people entering the workforce, the country may face serious economic challenges in the future.
The Company’s Controversial Requirement
The internal communication from the company stated that single employees, including those who are divorced, must “get married and start a family by September 30, 2025”.
If they did not comply with this requirement, the punishment would be severe: termination of the employment contract.
The rule was widely reported by Chinese state newspapers, such as Global Times and Beijing News, and sparked a flood of criticism online.
Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group did not officially comment on the case, but in the original communication justified that the rule was an attempt to encourage employees to make important decisions in their lives.
The company advocated values such as “diligence, kindness, loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness”, emphasizing that it wanted to encourage employees to stabilize emotionally and to form families.
Repercussions and Revocation of the Rule
In light of the significant repercussions of the case, local authorities intervened and ordered the revocation of the measure, stating that it violated Chinese labor legislation.
However, which specific articles of the law were violated were not specified. The decision to suspend the rule occurred in mid-February this year.
Marriage in Decline in China
The concern over marriage and birth rates is not without reason. The number of marriages in the country fell 20% last year, the largest drop ever recorded.
China has implemented measures to encourage young people to marry and have children, including public campaigns and educational programs.
Some universities have begun offering “love education,” addressing the importance of marriage and family formation.
Even so, young Chinese are increasingly hesitant about marriage and parenthood, citing reasons such as financial pressures, the pursuit of professional stability, and shifts in cultural values.
Modern urban life also imposes challenges, making child-rearing more expensive and less appealing.
Future Challenges
Given this scenario, the Chinese government will need to find viable solutions to avoid a demographic and economic crisis. The shortage of young labor may compromise the country’s productivity and impact various sectors.
The case of Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group exemplifies the extremes that some institutions are willing to go to try to curb this trend.
However, as demonstrated by the reaction from authorities and public opinion, there is no room for coercive and discriminatory measures in the workplace.
China will continue to seek ways to encourage marriage and childbirth, but it is unlikely that radical measures, like those adopted by the company, will be well-received in the future.
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