CHINA LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE
Sexual harassment claims gain widespread attention
Recent reports of disciplinary action taken against university staff accused of sexual harassment
have prompted speculation as to whether China may be about to witness a flood of high-profile
complaints similar to that currently being experienced in the United States.
Luo Xixi, a former doctoral student at Beijing’s Beihang University, who is currently reportedly living
and working in the U.S., credited the #MeToo movement – which aims to demonstrate the
widespread prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplaces – as
providing the inspiration to go public on Chinese social media with a complaint. On 1 January, 2018,
Luo alleged that her former doctoral supervisor, Professor Chen Xiaowu had sexually harassed her
12 years earlier, when she was a student. With other female students making similar allegations
through social media against Chen, on January 11, 2018, he was reportedly stripped of his teaching
qualification and administrative responsibilities, though as yet his employment has not been
terminated.
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