2015年CRI Draft Amendment to Ban Surrogacy, Cancel Late Marriage and Childbirth Leave

 

According to the law as it stands, citizens of late marriage and late childbirth can have an extension of their marriage and maternity¹ leave.

That means besides the due marriage leave, men over 25 years old and women over 23 enjoy a bonus leave of 10 to 30 days after their marriage.

However, this provision has been removed in the new amendment², sparking widespread public discussion.

"20 days reduced to 3 days, it's a big cut. That means you can't enjoy a honeymoon³ with your sweetheart."

"Post 90s don't have siblings⁴ because of the one-child policy, now they are supposed to enjoy the marriage and childbirth leave but the law removed it. It's so sad."

The amendment does note that couples in line with the childbirth policy can be rewarded an extension of their leave.

Chen Xiqing with the Standing⁵ Committee of National People's Congress has this to say:

"I think the word "reward" should be removed, because before the amendment the extension of childbirth leave only applied⁶ to some couples. The public were encouraged to have fewer births so they can have a longer leave. Now the amendment applies to all couples, so there is no need for the incentive⁷. If more births are encouraged in the future, it could be revised again."

The amendment has also brought the long-standing problem of illegal surrogacy into the official spotlight⁸, placing a ban on any form of surrogacy.

However, Deng Changyou with the Standing Committee of the NPC has concerns.

"If surrogacy is banned, there will be a problem. If couples or any one of them are infertile⁹, they will become a vulnerable group. The law should take them into account. It's unfair to put a general ban on it. I think it would be better if they are allowed to choose surrogacy when any one of a couple suffers from infertility¹⁰ and has been approved by the authorities.

A report on China's infertility finds the rate increased to 12 percent in 2012 from 3 percent of 1992, which means that about one in eight couples have reproductive problems.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.

1 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

4 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

8 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

9 infertile   

adj.不孕的；不肥沃的，贫瘠的

参考例句：

• Plants can't grow well in the infertile land.在贫瘠的土地上庄稼长不好。
• Nobody is willing to till this infertile land.这块薄田没有人愿意耕种。

10 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句