An unusual policy by a company in China where employees are made to give part of their salary to their parents has sparked debate online on filial piety.
中国一家公司颁布一项新规定,员工需抽出薪水的一部分交给父母,这引起人们在网上关于孝顺的激烈讨论。
The Guangzhou Daily newspaper reported that the company, an unnamed beauty salon chain, wanted to promote good moral values among its employees.
广州日报报道,这家公司是一个不院透露名字的美容美发连锁店,希望借此机会发扬员工良好的道德价值观。
Respect for parents is considered a key value in Chinese society and culture.
尊敬父母为中国社会与文化的重要价值观。
But the story, widely carried in local media, has triggered discussion on whether the company has gone too far.
然而,当地众多媒体报道后,这家公司的做法是否合适备受争议。
Most Chinese parents expect, by tradition, to receive part of their children's salaries once they start earning a wage.
传统上大多数中国父母希望子女开始工作后,能得到子女的一部分收入。
In 2013, China passed a law aimed at encouraging filial piety, mandating that those who live apart from their elderly parents must visit them frequently.
2013年,中国颁布一项法律,旨在弘扬孝顺,约束那些无法与年迈的父母在一起生活的子女需要经常看望父母。
'Inspiring respect'
鼓励孝顺
The Guangzhou-based chain's spokesman, Lu Meiye, said many of her employees were young, poorly educated people from rural villages.
广州连锁店的发言人卢美业表示,店里的许多员工都十分年轻并且来自农村,没有接受过良好的教育。
She said the chain wanted to "inspire filial respect among these employees for their parents, and also help the company maintain its compassion".
她表示:“希望连锁店能鼓励孝顺父母,同时也能有助于公司继续保持仁心。”
Ms Lu said the policy, which has been in place for the past three years, was made clear to every potential recruit. "Those who disagree with it will not be hired," she said.
卢女士说:“三年前这项规定便已经制定,招聘时也明确提出,那些不同意的将不会被聘用”
The average basic salary at the chain is about 3,000 yuan ($472).
员工的平均薪资大概是3000元。
The company automatically deducts 10% of single employees' salaries and 5% of married employees' salaries every month and wires the money directly to their parents.
公司自动每个月扣除单身员工薪水的10%,已婚员工的5%,并将这些钱直接打给他们的父母。
But it also gives compensation to employees, ranging from 100 yuan for those in their first year with the company to 300 yuan for those who have worked three years or more.
但是也会给予员工补助,对那些第一年在公司参加工作的员工发放100元补助,工作三年甚至更久的发放300元。
The company also holds regular classes for employees where they are taught, among other things, about filial piety.
公司也为员工定期授课,讲授其他知识,讲孝道。
'Salaries for employees, not parents'
薪水发给员工,而非父母
The policy was met with mixed reactions online, with many saying the company was overreaching and meddling.
规定一经颁布,引起网上各种回应,有些人表示公司干预过多。
"Filial piety is filial piety, and salary is salary.... Salaries are for the employees not for their parents. They should just mind their own business," said Wangchuanheshangdeyufu, a user of the Weibo microblog site.
一位名为王..的微博用户表示“孝顺归孝顺,薪水是发给员工,而不是给父母的,他们只应该管好自己的事。”
"The company's intention is good but its methods are too heavy handed. And filial piety should come naturally from the heart. This isn't quite right," said JiajiaPC.
JiajiaPC表示:“公司的出发点是好的,但是方法有些极端,孝顺应当是发自内心的,这样做欠妥。”
Some, like JibekeshiHMJ, felt the company was violating employee rights. "It is distorting the meaning of civic duty... It is also imposing itself on private matters between the employee and his or her family," said the user.
也有些人,像JibekeshiHMJ用户感觉公司侵犯了员工的权益。“这样曲解了公民的责任,这也是介入了员工个人家庭的私事。”
But some praised the move, saying that more needed to be done to promote filial piety.
但是,也有一些人赞扬这一做法,表示弘扬孝道还需要做很多。
"I support this! These days many young people just want to earn money for themselves and spend it on themselves, very few care for their families," said Aileenxiaodi.
Aileenxiaodi说道:“我表示支持,今天,许多年轻人挣钱花钱只想着自己,很少有人关心家庭。”