CHINA’S AGEING POPULATION

CHINA MARKS 30 YEARS OF ONE-CHILD POLICY

Marianne Barriaux

AFP, September 23, 2010

BEIJING — Han Mei knew when she fell pregnant for the second time that she was facing an extortionate fine, a salary drop and even the loss of her job for having flouted China's infamous one-child policy.

With her first child, a girl, she went on maternity leave a month before the birth, which was paid for by her employer.

When she had her son she waited until the day she went into labour to stop work and paid for the caesarean section herself.

The population control law that limits many in China to one child in a bid to improve people's lives marks its own 30th birthday on Saturday, having been formally implemented in 1980.

The risks Han faced were severe. "Anyone who illegally gave birth to a second child would be punished, and the penalties would be dismissal from school, a downgrade in wages or a fine," she said.

"If you didn't have money to pay the fine, your house would be demolished or the furniture and appliances moved away by the family planning officials," the retired teacher, now 50, added.

(...) [artículo aquí]