Across China: “Mommy positions” bring flexible work hours to China’s working mothers

by Xinhua writers Lyu Qiuping, Wang Kai and Wu Si
QINGDAO, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — In a bid to support work-life balance for mothers and support a fertility-friendly society, the port city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province has launched a “mommy position” program, offering flexible job opportunities tailored to the needs of working moms.
The first wave of such positions includes over 600 jobs in catering, housekeeping, and handicrafts alongside more than 500 emerging roles, such as in social media, livestream e-commerce, decluttering services and companions for medical visits, according to the city’s public employment and talent service center.
As China has relaxed its childbirth policy, allowing a family to have three children at most, mothers with two or three children have found it difficult to balance their careers and family roles.
This is where the “mommy positions” come in as an initiative to promote high-quality and full employment so that women enjoy better employment opportunities, said Dong Haibo, director of the center.
As part of the program, one food processing plant in the city has hired 25 mothers in its selection and packaging workshop, where they are responsible for selecting and packaging fruit and vegetable chips.
Zhao Jinye, the company’s general manager, highlighted the benefits of flexible work schedules for female employees, saying how it makes it easier for them to take leave when needed.
Zhao said that during peak production periods, the company faces a surge in orders and struggles to recruit workers at short notice.
“The integration of these working mothers into the workforce has brought the company a renewed vitality, which is mutually beneficial for both the company and the mothers,” she said.
Xia Yu, an employee at the company, said that she had found it difficult to take care of her two children while at her previous job. Now, with a flexible work schedule, she has time to pick up and drop off her 13-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son at school, as well as help with their homework.
“The ‘mommy position’ has reduced my anxiety about family and work, helping me achieve a balance between parenting and career,” she said, adding that she earns over 3,000 yuan (about 417 U.S. dollars) per month.
Qingdao’s program follows a September notice issued by Shandong Province encouraging the adoption of the “mommy position” employment model aimed at supporting women of legal working age who care for children under 12 years old.
In October, China unveiled new birth support policy measures to promote the building of a fertility-friendly society. A directive from the General Office of the State Council details 13 targeted measures, including better education, housing and employment support.
Policies should be improved to promote women’s employment and enhance vocational skills training for female workers, especially those re-entering the workforce after having children. Employers are encouraged to adopt flexible working hours, telecommuting and other measures to create a family-friendly working environment, according to the directive.
Liu Yanwu, a professor from the School of Sociology at Wuhan University, said that “mommy positions” not only provide flexible employment options for stay-at-home mothers but also help create a family-friendly work environment.
“This contributes to a positive atmosphere for building a fertility-friendly society, thereby, enhancing the public’s willingness to have children,” said Liu. ■