Chinese government workers call up women to urge pregnancy in latest birth rate push

Chinese government workers call up women to urge pregnancy in latest birth rate push

Chinese grass roots government workers, who implemented decades of birth control policy, are now calling up women in their neighbourhood to urge them to get pregnant amid China’s demographic crisis. When Jane Huang picked up the phone to answer a call earlier this month, her first response to the person on the end was to … Read more

Why China’s public sector workers are in a rush to retire early

Why China’s public sector workers are in a rush to retire early

Under the new system, China’s 8 million civil servants and 32 million employees of public institutions must pay 8 per cent of their salaries into the pension scheme, while their employers contribute 20 per cent. Previously, public sector workers did not have to make any contributions and were paid up to 80 per cent of … Read more

Discount shopping giant Temu’s supply chain faces scrutiny as mainland sellers protest

Discount shopping giant Temu’s supply chain faces scrutiny as mainland sellers protest

Temu’s efforts to please consumers were borrowed from its Chinese sister platform Pinduoduo, known for cut-to-the-bone deals and easy-to-refund options. That policy has helped Temu grow overseas. Its gross merchandise value surged to about US$20 billion in the first half of this year, surpassing overall sales of US$18 billion in 2023, according to a report … Read more