Huangfeng village in the south-western Sichuan province has taken a novel approach to making adult children care for their ageing parents – posting their names and photos on a public billboard. Loudspeaker announcements are next.
The village chiefs came up with the idea after some of its residents complained their children were not looking after for them properly, which is against the law.
The family law
The Confucian philosophy of family piety is valued highly in Chinese culture so they tried to talk to the adults who were accused of neglect.
But when the mistreatment continued, their names, photographs and list of transgressions were posted up for everyone to see. They are also rolling out plans for a loudspeaker system to declare their “crimes” as further punishment.
Looking after your elderly parents is a serious business in China – children are required by law to care for them with over 1,000 court cases brought by elderly Chinese to make their children pay assistance costs.
In 2013, the Government took the measures one step further, making it a legal requirement for children to provide emotional support and pay regular visits.
Earlier this year, Shanghai even introduced a law stating that adult children living apart from their parents should “visit or send greetings often” or face being hit with a lower credit rating.
Perhaps a good reminder to drop in and see Mum and Dad?
