

The city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, has taken a step back from its proposal to fine women for having children out of wedlock, after a flood of complaints by Chinese Netizens, the Global Times is reporting.

Previously, the city of Wuhan’s family planning authorities had proposed a “social maintenance fee” on women who knowingly had a child with a man who is already married, or have a child but are unable (or unwilling) to reveal the identity of the father. The fines could run as high as a whopping 162,000 RMB ($27,000), some six times the average disposable income in Wuhan. Critics of the plan rightly noted that the fines could be crippling to the poor, and likely would only result in more abortions and abandoned children.

In response to the flood of criticism, Wuhan family planning authorities have taken a step back…but not completely, as it turns out. The revised draft, now stipulates a maximum fine of 500 RMB ($82) per parent but only if the father is identified and is single. However, both parents could still be liable to pay a fine as high as 162,000 RMB ($27,000) if the child’s father already has a spouse.

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