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Is the 996 working hours system still a thing? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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If someone doesn't know what I'm referring to, 996 refers to working 9am-9pm 6 days a week, which some Chinese companies enforce (or enforced) on their employee. Jack Ma, for example, has spoken in support of it.

Wikipedia says that the Supreme People's Court deemed it illegal in 2021. I don't know about China's court system in detail (or any country's, really) but my understanding is that cases go to a higher court if someone successfully appeals the decision of a lower court. Shouldn't something like a 72 hour workweek be stricken down before reaching the supreme court?

I've heard that Huawei still enforces this, for example. I don't have sources because I've heard it from someone with Chinese acquaintances, so some fact-checking is appreciated.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (6 children)

The Supreme People's Court didn't deem "996" illegal in 2021, it was illegal all along, what it actually did is include examples of "996" in a list of typical labor disputes: (Chinese article) 2021-08-26 https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-319151.html. The actual government entities handling the cases were local "Labor Dispute Arbitration Committees", some went to court.

996 is definitely still a thing, I don't know how widespread it is, but it'll probably still be around for a long while.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (5 children)

it was illegal all along, what it actually did is include an example of “996” in a list of typical labor disputes: (Chinese article, first example is the “996” case)

Ok, that makes way more sense.

but it’ll probably still be around for a long while

Why are they letting it slide? Won't everyone who worked 996 eventually hate the government?

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

It's mostly a thing at top tech companies in Shenzhen and Shanghai like Huawei and Alibaba. It sucks, but the pay matches. However many people are choosing to work at smaller companies and SOEs which have a better work culture.

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