Love behind bars? Chinese company's ban on extramarital affairs triggers hot debate

A company in eastern China recently announced a ban on employees having extramarital affairs, leading to a heated discussion on social media platforms in mainland China. The ban applies to all married staff members and aims to promote loyalty to family and maintain a productive work environment, as per the SCMP media portal. However, concerns have been raised about the legality of the ban, with legal experts stating that it may infringe on employees' rights.

Company's rationale, policy

The Zhejiang-based company, whose identity remains undisclosed, issued an "extramarital affairs prohibition" order on June 9. The company's document explained that the ban was intended to enhance internal management, promote a corporate culture of marital loyalty, safeguard families, and improve work focus.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Also Read | Ex-UK police watchdog chief charged with rape of teen girl, indecent assault

The prohibition applied to married employees, explicitly forbidding behaviours such as extramarital affairs or maintaining mistresses. Violators of the rule would face termination, and the company emphasised the importance of correct love values among its staff.

"Anyone found violating this stipulation will be fired. We hope all staff can have correct love values and try to become good employees with four 'Nos' - no illicit relationship, no mistress, no extramarital affair and no divorce," the company said in a statement.

Also Read | Blasts, air raid sirens greet African ‘peace mission’ leaders visiting Kyiv

According to an anonymous staff member cited by the SCMP report, the ban was introduced to encourage employees to maintain stable and harmonious families, thereby enhancing their ability to concentrate on work. The company believes that a harmonious family life contributes to increased productivity in the workplace. However, the specific trigger for implementing this extreme measure remains unclear, and it is unknown whether any workplace affairs involving staff influenced the decision.

Legal considerations

Legal experts cited by SCMP have expressed doubts about the ban's legality. Lawyer Chen Dong from V&T Law Firm in Shanghai stated thataccording to China's Labour Contract Law, employees can only be terminated if they are unable to fulfil their job responsibilities or their capabilities no longer meet the requirements of their role.

Watch | India: Five terrorists killed in Kashmir

Even if a company includes an affair ban in its employee manual, it cannot serve as a legitimate basis for terminating employees. If workers are dismissed on these grounds, they can seek legal protection, the lawyer said.

Mixed responseon social media

The company's affair ban generated a mixed response on social media platforms in mainland China. Some individuals expressed support for the ban, praising the company for taking a stand against extramarital affairs.

They saw it as a positive contribution to society, addressing what they perceive as a common issue. Others, like prominent mainland blogger Zhou Kanjun, criticised the ban as an infringement on personal freedoms and privacy. The local municipal human resources and social security bureau, responsible for labour disputes, has not received any complaints about the ban thus far.

Recent incident

The announcement of the affair ban comes on the heels of a high-profile incident involving a senior executive at a state-owned oil company in China. The executive was filmed holding hands with a woman who was not his wife, leading to his termination after the video went viral on social media platforms in mainland China.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.