The Special Rules on the Labor Protection of Female Employees (《女职工劳动保护特别规定》) have applied since 28 April 2012. Key points:

- Pregnant employees: no night work or overtime after the 7th month of pregnancy; maternity leave of at least 98 days (plus local extension).
- Nursing mothers: one hour of nursing time per working day until the child is one year old.
- Prohibited work: certain physically strenuous or hazardous tasks during pregnancy and nursing.
- Protection against dismissal on grounds of pregnancy, childbirth or nursing.

Female worker protection is a specific audit module in SMETA and brand assessments. CSER Solutions helps factories build pregnancy-management procedures, reasonable accommodation and maternity-leave record keeping.