A Chinese woman, identified by her surname Duan from Guangan City in Sichuan province, southwestern China, has initiated a legal action against her daughter and son-in-law, demanding $26,000 in compensation for providing care to her grandson over a five-year period, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Duan had been looking after her grandson from February 2018 to July 2023, during which time her daughter, surnamed Hu, and son-in-law, surnamed Zhu, were working in Chengdu and couldn’t spare time for their child, whose age remains undisclosed. They had been sending Duan a monthly stipend of 1,000 yuan (US$135) along with a childcare fee of 2,000 yuan.
After five years of providing childcare without any grievances, Duan decided that she deserved additional compensation and requested the couple to pay her $26,000. An agreement was reached between Hu and Duan, where Hu promised to pay her mother 50,000 yuan (US$6,800). However, despite frequent reminders, Hu did not fulfill her payment commitment, prompting Duan to file a lawsuit against the couple.
The court recognized that Duan was not legally obligated to care for her grandson but acknowledged her entitlement to a childcare fee from the couple. However, the court deemed the amount she initially requested as excessive and decided to adjust it to 82,500 yuan.
In response, Zhu stated that Duan filed the lawsuit due to his ongoing divorce dispute. This story garnered significant attention on Chinese social media, with many users applauding the grandmother for taking legal action against the couple. Users expressed support for her right to seek fair compensation for her childcare services.
One user commented, “The compensation she requests is justified,” while another remarked, “She is wise, her purpose is to protect and fight for her daughter.”
