Parent-friendly jobs help bridge cribs and clocks
Balancing child-rearing and careers, 'Mom Posts' gaining momentum as nation endeavors to boost birth rate, address manufacturing sector labor shortage
Every afternoon, Feng Jianlai clocks out early from his job, picks up his 5-year-old son from kindergarten, and heads home to spend time with his 2-year-old. Just a few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.
Feng, from Zhongshan city, a manufacturing hub in South China's Guangdong province, credits one thing for the change: a local initiative known as "Mom Posts". Initially created to help mothers of young children return to work with flexible hours, the program has since expanded to support fathers like Feng as well.
Feng is the general manager of the sewing workshop at a daily necessities manufacturer. Last year, his position was reclassified as a "Mom Post" after he applied for the designation. Today, 70 percent of the workshop roles are classified as "Mom Posts," giving caregivers greater flexibility in managing their work schedules.
"It's not just for moms," Feng said. "Now dads can take time off when needed and make it up later. It's a real help for families like ours."
Zhongshan was among the first Chinese cities to roll out "Mom Posts," offering government subsidies to encourage businesses to create flexible work opportunities for parents, especially mothers.
