Mother-Friendly Jobs in Chongqing Offer Flexibility and Support for Working Mothers
Duan Yi, a 30-year-old mother in Chongqing, recently found a job at a flexible employment fair. After closing her small shop due to economic difficulties, she sought a job that would allow her to balance work and family life. The fair, co-hosted by the Chongqing Employment Service Bureau and other organizations, offered a variety of "mother-friendly" positions designed for women with caregiving responsibilities.
Duan now works as a data entry clerk, earning 500 yuan ($69) per day. She goes to the office when needed and works from home when caring for her son. "I'm satisfied with this job and its flexible hours," she said. "Now that I am back in the job market, I can acquire new skills and prepare for more promising career opportunities."
The fair featured 5,000 jobs from 100 companies, with over 2,000 specifically designated as "mother-friendly." These positions offer flexible hours and adaptable management models, allowing mothers to balance work and childcare.
Li Fangsheng, a manager at Chongqing Youjipin Human Resources Management, explained that the company seeks service-oriented staff for various positions in high-end hotels. These jobs offer flexible hours and are ideal for mothers with experience in cooking, cleaning, and housekeeping.
Shapingba district has organized several such employment fairs this year, providing over 6,100 jobs to mothers with salaries ranging from 4,000 to 13,000 yuan per month. The district aims to foster a fertility-friendly society by supporting women in balancing employment and family responsibilities.
Chongqing has hosted numerous job fairs this year, offering 23,000 mother-friendly positions. The city regularly advertises job vacancies online and organizes special employment fairs to support women.
This initiative aligns with national efforts to address fertility challenges. The National Health Commission and other departments have issued guidelines emphasizing the need to promote women's employment and support mothers re-entering the workforce after childbirth.
Qi Xiumin, a legal expert, believes "mother-friendly" positions address both employment challenges faced by mothers and labor shortages faced by businesses. She suggests expanding eligibility to include all caregivers and diversifying roles to meet regional and industrial demands.
By refining standards for position design, rights protection, and integrating technical and managerial roles, these initiatives can ensure long-term sustainability and support working mothers in achieving both personal and professional goals.
14 Comments
Noir Black
This is just another way for businesses to exploit women's need for flexibility. They get cheap labor without having to offer benefits or security.
KittyKat
This is a great initiative that helps mothers balance work and family life. It allows them to contribute to the economy while still caring for their children.
Loubianka
These "mother-friendly" jobs are often part-time or temporary, making it difficult for mothers to access benefits like health insurance.
Eugene Alta
This initiative is just lip service. Are there enough childcare facilities available to make these flexible hours actually work?
Habibi
The government should be focusing on providing affordable childcare, not on creating special programs for mothers.
Muchacho
This is a good example of how to promote gender equality in the workplace.
Mariposa
Focusing only on mothers ignores the needs of fathers and single parents. Shouldn't these programs be inclusive of all caregivers?
Muchacha
This program is just a temporary solution. What happens to mothers when their children are older and they need full-time work?
Bella Ciao
500 yuan a day? That's barely enough to cover the cost of living, let alone childcare! This program seems more like exploitation than support.
Comandante
Instead of creating "mother-friendly" jobs, companies should focus on making all jobs family-friendly. That would benefit everyone, not just mothers.
Mariposa
This is a positive example of how government and businesses can work together to support working families.
Comandante
The flexible hours and adaptable management models offered by these jobs are essential for mothers who need to be able to adjust their schedules.
ZmeeLove
This is a step in the right direction towards creating a more family-friendly society.
Habibi
The program provides much-needed support for women who are struggling to balance work and family.