Lights out at 9pm: China’s companies push again in opposition to 996 tradition | USAEMALL.com

Chinese tech tycoon Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, once famously said that it was “a blessing” for workers to be part of the cutthroat 996 work culture and that the economy was “very likely to lose vitality and impetus” without it. 

Those who enjoyed their work would not find the 996 practice to be an issue, Ma had said back in 2019. 

Public debate has intensified amid reports of multiple overwork-related deaths. 

For the first time in its highly-anticipated annual work report, the Chinese government addressed the issue of “neijuan-style competition”, saying “comprehensive steps” would be taken “to address rat race competition”. 

“We will move faster to develop and improve foundational institutions and rules for this purpose,” Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Mar 5. 

“The fact that the term appeared in the report clearly indicates strong concern (by the Chinese government) over this negative phenomenon,” Dr Chen Bo, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute, previously told CNA, adding he remained hopeful that more measures on the part of companies would be introduced in the months to come. 

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Could the tide finally be turning for overworked employees in China? Or are recent changes short-term and merely for show? 

Major Chinese corporations moving to combat toxic workplace practices signals a positive step in the right direction and “a useful starting point”, experts told CNA, but real changes will take time – and senior management must continue to remain supportive in order for change to truly be effective. 

Competition is important but excessive competition is unhealthy, said Dr Paul Lim, senior lecturer of organisational behaviour and human resources at Singapore Management University (SMU).

If the Chinese government takes a serious view towards clamping down on the 996 system, then improvements on the part of companies and managers will be seen, Dr Lim said.