China: In a First, Divorce Court Orders Husband To Compensate Wife for Housework
The ruling, however, has sparked intense debate about the value of domestic work, with some arguing that the compensation was too low.
Representational image. Photo: Blogtrepreneur/Flickr CC BY 2.0
World24/Feb/2021
New Delhi: A divorce court in Beijing has ordered a man to compensate his wife for the housework she did during their marriage, in a landmark ruling that also triggered a debate on the value of domestic work.
According to the BBC, the woman will receive 50,000 yuan ($7,700 or Rs 5.6 lakh) for unpaid labour during their five-year marriage. The ruling comes after China introduced a new civil code which allows spouses to seek compensation in a divorce if they bear more responsibility in “childraising, caring for elderly relatives and assisting partners in their work”, the BBC reported.