Draft offers men, women parental leave

SHENZHEN, Guangdong - In an effort to promote gender equality, city legislators have reviewed a draft regulation that would grant 10 days of parental leave a year to both parents of a child younger than age 3.

The draft was sent for a second review at the 12th meeting of the fifth standing committee of the Shenzhen People's Congress on Sunday.

Unlike a previous version reviewed in October, the second draft would extend the leave from five to 10 days. "This is the first attempt to legalize both parents' right to parental leave in the country," said Liu Shuguang, deputy head of the Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs of Shenzhen People's Congress Standing Committee.