Government and Policy

Big fines for having babies outside marriage

By Cheng Anqi (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-03 15:42

According to a new regulation announced by Chongqing's Family Planning Commission, married people who give birth out of wedlock will face a possible fine up to 250,000 yuan ($36,725), Chongqing Economic Times reported today.

Among different unlawful acts of giving birth in this southwestern municipality, married people having babies outside marriage will be the most serious offense.

The lowest level of the fine, called the social compensation fee, is six times the city's disposable personal income of the previous year, while the highest is nine times that of the previous year.

For example, if a couple gave birth in 2009 outside marriage, each of them would be required to pay 86,160 yuan (the 2008 disposable personal income of the city was 14,360 yuan) if their disposable income was lower than the previous year, 129,240 yuan each if it was higher.

An unmarried couple who has a baby would be charged 6,000 yuan ($882) in social compensation fees.

The fees for extra births of married couples would be two to six times the disposable personal income of the previous year.