China's ever-expanding divorce rate has nurtured the growth of a
whole industry claiming to specialize in the business of breaking
up.
In fact, the market for divorce services is so good that the
Shanghai Weiqing Marriage Consulting Company, widely known as
China's first "divorce company", opened its 28th franchise outlet
on January 7 in Hangzhou.
"During our first week, we received 40 calls from people seeking
counselling," said Li Peixiang, general manager and marriage
analyst at the Hangzhou outlet.
As of Monday, six clients had signed contracts with the new
branch office to secure counselling services.
Most of the clients said they were on the verge of divorce and
looking for help to win the biggest possible share of the property
in the divorce settlement.
Though the company has built its reputation helping people part
ways, Li said she wanted people to think of her company as a
relationship consulting company, rather than a "divorce
company".
"We also provide psychological counseling to people who find
themselves caught in a web of friendship, love and unhappiness," Li
said.
Marriage crises
She added that Hangzhou Weiqing's counselors were focused on
helping their clients end their marriage crises, which is one of
the principles that Shanghai Weiqing asks its 28 franchise outlets
to uphold.
Li said her company employs a team of professionals that
includes marriage analysts, psychologists and lawyers, all with
appropriate licenses.
After a face-to-face interview with their clients, the
consultants assess the client's marriage. If they feel the marriage
is hopeless, they may encourage divorce. If not, they will develop
ways to save the marriage.
"Divorce is the last resort so long as there is a possibility of
reconciliation," Li said.
Su Xin, chairman of Shanghai Weiqing struck a similar note.
"By the end of 2006, our company had helped more than 2,700
couples reconcile and 300 divorce peacefully," Su said.
Weiqing charges by the hour 200 yuan ($24.6) per hour for an
assessment, and 300 yuan ($37) for legal aid in cases involving
divorce proceedings.
Su started the company in March 2004, and its annual revenue
increased fourfold last year compared to the previous year, Su told
the Hangzhou-based Today Morning Post.
Franchised outlets have opened in many big cities across the
country in the years since the company's launch. Li opened the
Hangzhou branch after undergoing a year's worth of training as a
psychologist in Shanghai. She also paid the company over 100,000
yuan ($12,300) in franchising fees.
Divorce is common
"Divorce is now as common as marriage," Su said. "That's why our
business has flourished."
According to statistics released recently by Shanghai Municipal
Civil Affairs Bureau, last year was a big year for divorce, with
more than 37,000 couples, about 22 percent more, separating. The
number of divorced people younger than 35 in Hangzhou increased by
30 percent in 2005 compared with the previous year.
Liu Yong, a university teacher in Shanghai, entrusted his
divorce to a specialist company.
"Sometimes people are more apt to expose their inner thoughts to
a stranger than to friends and relatives," he said.
(China Daily January 17, 2007)