China company bans candidates born in Year of the Dog fearing bad luck for boss. Full story

In Chinese astrology, the Dragon and Dog are considered conflicting signs.

A hiring policy by a company in Guangdong province, China, has generated significant controversy after explicitly excluding candidates born in the Year of the Dog. Sanxing Transportation, a firm based in southern China, has stipulated in its job advertisement that applicants with this zodiac sign should refrain from applying, citing superstitious beliefs about zodiac compatibility, South China Morning Post reported.

According to the company, the exclusion is based on the belief that individuals born under the Dog sign would bring bad luck to the company's boss, who is identified as a Dragon. In Chinese astrology, the Dragon and Dog are considered conflicting signs, which some superstitions claim could lead to professional discord and misfortune. The job, offering a monthly salary between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan (approximately US$420 to US$550), is notably below the average salary in the province.

A staff member from Sanxing Transportation explained the rationale behind the policy in an interview with Hubei Television. “The reason we have this restriction is that our boss is a Dragon, and according to tradition, Dragons and Dogs do not get along well. We prefer candidates whose zodiac signs are not Dogs,” the staff member said. The company further stated that less qualified candidates would still be considered if their zodiac signs aligned more favourably with that of the boss.

The zodiac system in Chinese astrology includes twelve signs, each associated with particular traits and elements. In this case, the Dragon is associated with the water element, while the Dog is linked to fire, leading to beliefs of inherent conflict between the two signs.

The policy has faced widespread criticism on mainland social media, where many have denounced it as discriminatory. Comments on Weibo reflect a range of concerns, with some labelling the practice as a form of bias and others recounting similar experiences of zodiac-based discrimination in hiring practices, according to the news outlet.

Wu Xingjian, a lawyer from Hubei Chisheng Law Firm, noted that while such preferences may be considered discriminatory, they are not explicitly illegal. “The company's rule could be viewed as discriminatory, but preferences based on zodiac signs do not breach specific legal statutes in China,” Wu stated.