reuters.com
www.reuters.com
  • Despite being against the law, working 72-hour weeks still common
  • Aggressive performance targets, low wages, and desire for job security key factors
  • Recent drive to tackle ‘996’ partly due to EU Forced Labour Regulation, which includes excessive overtime
  • Intense price wars in key industries also seen as factors

[…]

Many Chinese employees are expected to work a 72-hour week under the country’s gruelling “996” culture: 9am to 9pm, six days a week. The work style has been endorsed by some of China’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma. But some critics have described it as labour exploitation, even modern slavery.

For the past few years, the Chinese government has attempted to stamp out “996”, including by outlawing it in 2021. That year, tech giants including TikTok parent company ByteDance and Tencent also tried to halt “996” after a 22-year-old woman at e-commerce firm Pingduoduo reportedly collapsed to her death on her way home from work past midnight.

But intense overtime has remained a common practice in China.

[…]

        • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works
          6·
          6 days ago

          They do not want their people to live more comfortable lives, like the west.

          Even as a frequent critic of China, I find that claim frankly ridiculous

          • scratsearcher 🔍🔮📊🎲@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            14·
            6 days ago

            Look at Uhigur Muslims being treated, the Chinese Communists do not want their citizens to live comfortable lives. No other western nation treats muslim populations that badly on purpose.

            • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works
              52·
              6 days ago

              You’re extrapolating the treatment of a small regional minority that is being actively genocided, into the treatment of the entire population as a whole? WTF. Are you just trolling?

              • scratsearcher 🔍🔮📊🎲@sopuli.xyzEnglish
                11·
                5 days ago

                There are other minorities of Chinese population that get genocided, like Tibetans and Mongolians. This shows they are ready to treat their entire population like this.

                How a population treats its minorities is ultimately linked to how it treats itself.