Rampant marital infidelity by men, and keeping mistresses, violates the law on monogamy and represents an abuse of married women, some lawmakers say.

Many legislators are calling for a crackdown on gender discrimination and maltreatment of women, as the nation observes International Women's Day.

Citing rampant extramarital love affairs, domestic violence, sexual harassment and career gender discrimination, deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) said ensuring fair treatment for women requires major work.

Many married men keep one or more mistresses in de facto wedlock that challenging legal monogamy, they said.

Unofficial sources say 95 percent of government and Party officials convicted of corruption had kept lovers.

Of all the divorce cases handled by a county court in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, 34.5 percent involved in extramarital affairs.

Extramarital relations not only infringe upon women's dignity and undermine family harmony, but also negatively affect young generations, some NPC deputies said.

Some lawmakers said extramarital affairs should be subject to legal penalties, not just moral condemnation if they cause family problems.

Last year, a ban on sexual harassment was added to the Law on Women's Rights Protection, but violations have not been effectively curbed, said deputy Sun Shujun.

Concrete measures should be taken to protect women from physical and mental harassment and abuse, said Sun.

Further, it is unfair to discriminate against women in the job market, said deputy Wang Xianzhen.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security said 67 percent of work units in 62 surveyed cities had gender restrictions, some even banning pregnancy during employees' contract term.

Many enterprises offer fewer job opportunities to women because officials worry about higher expenses if they get married or have babies.

However, labor laws requires employers ensure salaries of female workers during pregnancy and childbirth leaves.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2006)