China court in landmark case orders man to compensate wife for housework

A Beijing divorce court in a landmark case has ordered a man to pay his wife for the housework she did during their marriage.

For five years of unpaid labour, the woman would earn 50,000 yuan ($7,700), reports the BBC.

The case has created an immense online discussion about the importance of domestic jobs, with some saying the amount of compensation was too small.

The ruling comes after China adopted a new civil code.

The man known as, Chen, filed for divorce last year from his wife, Wang, after getting married in 2015, according to court records.

At first, she was reluctant to divorce but later called for financial compensation, claiming that Chen had not shouldered their son's housework or childcare duties.

Fangshan District Court in Beijing ruled in her favour, ordering him to pay her 2,000 yuan monthly allowance, as well as a one-off payment of 50,000 yuan for her housework.

The presiding judge told reporters on Monday that the division of a couple's joint property after marriage usually entails splitting tangible property. "But housework constitutes intangible property value," said the judge.

The ruling was made according to the new civil code in the country, which came into effect this year. Under the new law, a spouse is entitled to seek compensation in a divorce if he or she bears more responsibility in child raising, caring for elderly relatives, and assisting partners in their work.

Previously, divorcing spouses could only request for such compensation if a prenuptial agreement had been signed - an uncommon practice in China.

On social media, the case sparked heated debate, with a related hashtag on microblogging platform Weibo viewed more than 570 million times.

Some social media users pointed out that 50,000 yuan for five years' of work was too little. "I'm a bit speechless, the work of a full-time housewife is being underestimated. In Beijing, hiring a nanny for a year costs more than 50,000 yuan," said one commenter.

Others pointed out that men should assume more household duties in the first place.

Some also called on women to continue pursuing their careers after marriage. "Ladies, remember to always be independent. Don't give up work after marriage, give yourself your own way out," wrote one social media user.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Chinese women spend nearly four hours a day on unpaid work - roughly 2.5 times that of men.

It is higher than the average in OECD countries, where women spend twice the amount of time as men on unpaid work.