Single mums in China want the same treatment as married ones
Having a child out of wedlock can mean denial of maternity benefits
SOON AFTER Zhang Jiajia gave birth to a boy in 2017, she went to her local social-security centre in Shanghai to claim maternity benefits. These would include reimbursements for services such as prenatal check-ups and midwifery, as well as compensation for lost workdays. But Ms Zhang (a pseudonym) was turned away. The centre wanted proof of marriage. As a single mother, she had none.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Against the tide”
From the December 4th 2021 edition
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