Round Table China Why can't China stop working overtime?
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Apr 6, 2026 A deep look at why Chinese workers average nearly 49 hours a week despite laws. The conversation digs into legal loopholes, invisible overtime via phones, and industry differences like tech and medicine. They explore health risks tied to long hours and whether performance metrics or managerial culture drive presenteeism. Generational attitudes and potential legal and managerial fixes are also discussed.
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Labor Law Limits Versus Actual Hours
- China legally caps work at 44 hours weekly but enforcement lags and averages reached about 48.6 hours in 2025.
- The 1994 Labor Law Article 36 exists, yet cultural and practical gaps let overtime persist across many workplaces.
Invisible Overtime Is Eating Personal Time
- Invisible overtime now blurs work and personal life through digital tools and after-hours mental load.
- Xiaoping reported ~39% of workers do daily overtime and notifications or thinking about replies can eat hours.
Long Hours Have Large Health Costs
- Long working hours carry measurable health costs: >55 hours weekly raises stroke risk by 35% and increases heart disease mortality.
- WHO/ILO estimate around 745,000 annual deaths globally from long working hours.