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Gender inequality report released

Writer:   | Editor: Lily A  | From:  | Updated: 2018-07-31

Female jobseekers in the city still face various forms of gender discrimination, according to a government report on gender inequality released at the launch ceremony of the city’s first gender equality assessment work station Friday afternoon.

According to the report, more than 22 percent of female jobseekers said they had met potential employers who required employees to be more than 170 cm tall. This is discriminating against female jobseekers through a height requirement, as not many women are taller than 170 cm in the city, the report said.

The report, jointly compiled in 2017 by the city’s human resources and social security bureau and Shenzhen Women’s Federation, said gender discrimination still exists in the city’s job market.

More than 20 percent of female jobseekers said in the report that they’d been asked about their marital status when seeking jobs, while only 9.3 percent of male jobseekers had been asked the same question.

More than 10 percent more women than men had been asked about their parenthood during job interviews, since many employers don’t want female employees who haven’t had children as they don’t want to hire an employee who may miss work and still get paid for six months, according to the report.

Most employers stereotype female employees as always being distracted by family affairs, while they think men are more dedicated to work.

It is important to set up a professional agency to assess the legislation and implementation of gender equality, said Luo Li, deputy director of the standing committee of the MPC, adding that the agency will help push for the implementation of rules to promote gender equality among employers.

(SD News)