A party has suggested legal revisions be made to guarantee a woman has the right to check their husband's private savings during the annual session of the top advisory body.
The proposal raised by the Central Committee of the China Democratic League to the 3rd Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, suggested joint bank accounts be set up and "varied measures" be taken to solve the problem.
"These arrangements will better protect women, who are usually in a disadvantaged position in a marriage breakup, from unjustified financial losses," said Chen Shu, a deputy to a session of the 10th National People's Congress.
According to a survey conducted last year by the Chinese Democratic League Central Committee, concern about spouses keeping private savings are the top complaint of women, drawing 49.56 percent of votes, Information Daily newspaper reported on Monday. The newspaper did not say how many women were surveyed.
The cdl survey also indicated contrasting ideas over whether property claims by "innocent concubines" should be protected. About 48 percent of those surveyed said if a woman is tricked into bigamy they deserve a lawful claim to any property secured in the "de facto marriage." However, 41 percent said concubines should not have any property rights under any circumstances.
In the proposal, the CDL central committee also suggested more in-depth studies be conducted in this regard and "appropriate guarantees" be given to "innocent concubines" with the precondition that a complete set of rules are made to solve all peripheral problems.
Cdl also proposed to ban all employment adverts stipulating "men are preferred."
The cdl proposal also covered the unfair requirement that female civil servants retire at the age of 55 - five years before their male colleagues. It also recommended communities provide refuge for women to prevent domestic conflicts from escalating into violence.