Fears of having their salary deducted, dismissal, or of an influence on probation or promotion, are among the reasons for many women in the Chinese workplace today choosing to keep their pregnancy a secret from their employers.
如今，许多中国职场女性选择向雇主隐瞒自己怀孕的秘密，原因之一是担心自己的工资被克扣、被解雇，或者影响试用或晋升。
In China, some 62.3 percent of women believe that childbearing is an unavoidable burden for them.
在中国，约62.3%的女性认为生育是她们不可避免的负担。
Yet, in recent years, both national and local governments have continuously issued policies to encourage fertility and eliminate discrimination in the workplace. Under such a background, how has pregnancy, a supposed joyous experience, become a secret that some women in the workplace do not want to disclose?
然而，近年来，国家和地方政府不断出台鼓励生育、消除职场歧视的政策。在这样的背景下，怀孕这个本应是幸福的经历，怎么就成了一些职场女性不愿透露的秘密呢？
A report published this morning, 27 February, by The Paper, cites the recent experience of serval women in China, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.
澎湃新闻今天上午（2 月 27 日）发表的一篇报道援引了中国一些女性的近期经历，这些女性均要求匿名。
One lady interviewed said, “I got pregnant by accident shortly after getting my job. I was still on probation and afraid of losing the job because of my pregnancy, so I had to hide it from the company at first”.
一位接受采访的女士表示，“我刚上班不久就意外怀孕了，当时我还在试用期，害怕因为怀孕而失去工作，所以一开始只能向公司隐瞒”。
Over the next few months, she tried to behave as normal. Fortunately, being new in the firm, her colleagues were not familiar with her, so she was able to pass her probation period.
在接下来的几个月里，她试图表现得像正常人一样。幸亏刚进公司，同事们对她并不熟悉，所以她才顺利通过了试用期。
Are Chinese workers obliged to inform their employer as to their pregnancy?
中国工人是否有义务告知雇主自己怀孕的情况？
Xue Lu is a lawyer with Beijing Ambo (Zhengzhou) Law Firm. She explained, “Pregnancy is not covered by conditions that workers are obliged to truthfully inform their employer.” Xue also reminded that information regarding fertility falls under personal privacy. Any worker has the right of autonomy when considering whether to inform the employer of their pregnancy.
薛璐，北京安博（郑州）律师事务所律师。她解释说：“工人必须如实告知雇主的条件不包括怀孕。”薛还提醒，有关生育的信息属于个人隐私。任何劳动者在考虑是否向用人单位告知自己怀孕的情况时，都有自主权。
But keeping a pregnancy hidden also carries certain risks.
但隐藏怀孕也会带来一定的风险。
Shen Jianfeng, Dean of the Law School at the China Institute of Labour Relations, commented, “If the employer is not informed, they cannot take protective measures for pregnant-female employees as prescribed by law.”
中国劳动关系学院法学院院长沈剑峰表示，“如果用人单位不知情，就无法依法对怀孕女职工采取保护措施。”
Without their knowledge, an employer can arrange that a female-staff member engage in work at height, in low-temperatures, cold water or other conditions that may endanger the safety of both mother and unborn child.
用人单位可以在女职工不知情的情况下，安排女职工从事高空、低温、冷水或者其他可能危及母亲和胎儿安全的工作。
Back with the potential for discrimination, the newly-revised Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests, implemented on 1 January this year, clearly stipulates that employers shall not inquire or investigate the marriage and childbearing situation of female job seekers.
面对歧视的可能性，今年1月1日起实施的新修订的妇女权益保障法明确规定，用人单位不得询问、调查女性求职者的婚育情况。
However, according to the “2022 Survey Report on the Status of Chinese Women in the Workplace”, released by headhunting site, Zhaopin.com, 61.2 percent of women claimed to have been asked about marriage and childbearing during their job searches. A further 38.3 percent were also of the opinion that both marriage and childbearing affected their career prospects.
然而，智联招聘发布的《2022年中国女性职场状况调查报告》显示，61.2%的女性声称在求职过程中曾被问及婚育问题。另有38.3%的人认为结婚和生育都会影响他们的职业前景。
Nevertheless, China now has an ageing population and having children is naturally being encouraged. Experts suggest that a reasonable childbearing, cost-sharing mechanism should be established, one that presumably can alleviate the concerns of the 62.3 percent.
不过，中国现在人口老龄化，生孩子自然是受到鼓励。专家建议，建立合理的生育费用分摊机制，想必可以缓解62.3%的人的担忧。
