Women's group advocates forced leaves for fathers

The Shanghai Women's Federation is proposing that new fathers be required to take paternity leave to help relieve mothers' burdens related to the newborn and further improve gender equality in the workplace.

The proposal was delivered during the ongoing annual sessions of the municipal legislative and political advisory bodies by the federation, an organization dedicated to safeguarding women's rights and interests.

Currently, new parents in Shanghai can enjoy up to 138 days of paid leave for maternity and paternity - 128 days for women and 10 for men. But mothers typically take on most of the chores associated with babies while many fathers give up their permitted leaves and continue with their jobs.