Supporting Laws and Regulations on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests

On January 1, 1995, the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China came into force, stipulating special labor protection for female workers.

On June 1, 1995, the Maternal and Infant Health Care Law of the People’s Republic of China came into force.

In 1998, the Organic Law of the Villagers’ Committees of the People’s Republic of China (for trial implementation) was formally promulgated and implemented. In October 2010, the revised Organic Law of the Villagers’ Committees was promulgated, which clearly stipulates the proportion of women among villagers’ representatives, and provides a legal basis for the review and revision of village rules and regulations from the perspective of gender equality.

On September 1, 2002, the Population and Family Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China came into force.

The Employment Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China was implemented on January 1, 2008. Provisions like “the state guarantees that women enjoy equal rights to work with men”, “employers may not stipulate restrictions on women’s marriage and childbearing in their labor contracts,” provide guarantees for women’s equal employment and protection from discrimination in employment. Since April 28, 2012, the Special Rules on the Labor Protection of Female Employees has been in effect.

On January 19, 2014, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued “Opinions on Comprehensively Deepening Rural Reform to Accelerate Agriculture Modernization,” emphasizing that “women’s rights and interests in land contracting should be effectively safeguarded.” In August 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture and the All-China Women’s Federation further emphasized the need for women’s names on land warrants and registries.