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A court in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, has upheld a woman's request for compensation of 50,000 yuan ($6,977) for her role as a full-time housewife over a period of 20 years. The decision was reported by Jimu News, a news outlet based in Hubei province.
The woman, surnamed Zhang, initiated a lawsuit in the people's court of Xiying sub-district seeking a divorce, custody of their children, and compensation from her husband, surnamed Li, following the end of their marriage. Instead of proceeding directly to court, the people's court arranged for mediation facilitated by the local woman's federation. Through mediation, the couple reached an agreement on divorce, child-rearing responsibilities, and property division.
Li agreed to provide Zhang with the requested compensation for the housework she had performed. This case gained significant attention on social media platforms, such as Sina Weibo, where many users expressed the opinion that 50,000 yuan is too low of an amount for the contributions made by a full-time housewife over a 20-year period.
One Weibo user commented, "Ridiculous, the cost of hiring a nanny for 20 years far exceeds 50,000 yuan."
It is worth noting that, according to the Civil Code of the PRC, while provisions exist regarding child support payments, there is no provision for spousal support (typically for the wife). This makes it challenging for spouses who have been homemakers to secure a stable income, often becoming a significant reason why many wives are hesitant to seek divorce, even in unhappy marriages.
Under the Civil Code, either spouse has the right to request compensation if one party has shouldered a greater responsibility for household duties during the marriage and they are on the verge of divorce.
However, there are no specific regulations or guidelines within the Civil Code regarding the exact amount of compensation that can be sought.
When determining the appropriate compensation, various factors such as the duration of the marriage, the spouses' incomes, and the contributions made to the marriage are taken into consideration. However, critics argue that the awarded amount of 50,000 yuan is still too low, considering the challenges faced by women who have been out of the workforce for many years and the difficulties they encounter in finding suitable employment after divorce.