India, Feb. 24 -- A company in China has been reprimanded by authorities after it introduced a controversial policy threatening to fire employees who remained single by the end of September. The Shuntian Chemical Group, based in Shandong province, implemented the policy in January, aiming to increase the company's marriage rate, reported the South China Morning Post.

The policy targeted single and divorced employees aged 28 to 58, instructing them to "get married and settle down" by September. Employees who failed to do so by March were required to submit a self-criticism letter, while those still unmarried by June would undergo an evaluation. If they remained single by the deadline, they would be dismissed.

The company justified the po...