Chinese Workers Discontent with Labor Day Vacation Arrangements

Chinese workers, Labor Day vacation arrangements : Like hundreds of millions of workers in China, Hao Zeyu, an algorithm engineer at an electric vehicle maker, is getting five days off this week for the Labor Day holiday. But he’s in no mood to party. In order to take the vacation, Hao is required to work an extra day on each weekend immediately before and after the break.

Chinese Workers Express Discontent Over Labor Day Vacation Arrangements

To add insult to injury, two of the official vacation days fall on Saturday and Sunday. That means just one of those five days counts as a genuine holiday.

The practice of moving workdays to weekends to create a longer vacation during major Chinese holidays is known as “tiaoxiu” or adjusted rest. Introduced in 1999 to stimulate consumer spending following the Asian financial crisis, it has been the subject of much online anger in the weeks leading up to this year’s May 1 holiday.

“I really don’t like it,” Hao told CNN. “I think this policy was meant to promote consumption at a certain stage of the country’s development, but I very much do not support it anymore,” he added.

So, why has a decades-old policy caused so much upset in a country whose Communist Party leadership pays annual homage to International Workers’ Day?

Workers say a post-Covid slump in the world’s second largest economy means they are increasingly afraid of losing their jobs if they dare to ask for extra leave on top of the officially sanctioned holidays — which they had previously felt comfortable doing.

And they say they’re being asked to work harder than ever because their employers are trying to do more with fewer resources as economic misery — a property crisis, declining foreign investment and tepid consumption — piles up.

Working harder

Christian Yao, a senior lecturer at the University of Wellington, said China’s economy is “in the middle of very bumpy years” as it strives to transform itself from a manufacturing powerhouse into a knowledge-based economy.

He said workers are beginning to question where the country is heading. The slowing economy has, in turn, put pressure on companies to improve their productivity while cutting costs.

“Workers are forced to work harder, afraid of losing jobs and at the same time afraid of whether finding another job is going to offer them better pay,” he said.

Even though some workers are used to working long hours under China’s “996” work culture — the practice of working from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week that is common among the country’s tech companies, startups and other private businesses — others are now refusing to put up with the adjusted work policy, Yao said.

With the policy, China is able to designate more than 25 days as official holidays. Without the maneuvering though, workers get 11 days, which is still in line with many other countries. The United States, for instance, offers 11 federal holidays while the United Kingdom has eight days.

But the problem for Chinese workers is that their statutory paid time off (PTO), or annual leave, is just five days a year, which is much less than many other countries.

When times were good, Chinese companies were more generous in granting those PTO days. But it’s a different story during an economic slowdown.

Exceptions to the rule

A minority of companies are doing things their own way. Yaer Tuerdi, 26, works in the marketing division of Kentucky Fried Chicken, which is run by fast food giant Yum China (YUMC).

Yum China doesn’t require workers to come in during the two designated “special working days.”

“I like it,” said Tuerdi. “You can arrange your break freely … If you want to travel, you can take annual leave to make up for the gap. If you don’t want to travel, you can still have two days of rest on the weekend.”

A movement among independent businesses is pushing back on the obsession of excessively long work hours. Among the more prominent proponents is Pang Dong Lai, a supermarket chain known for its customer service based in the central province of Henan.

In March, its founder and chairman Yu Donglai announced he was offering 10 days a year of “sadness leave” for employees who did not feel up to working, state media People’s Daily reported.

“Everyone feels down inevitably every now and then and if they can have this sadness leave, they may feel good again,” it quoted him as saying. Managers, Yu added, cannot reject such leave applications.

He has been one of the rare advocates of work-life balance in a culture that prizes “eating bitterness,” or enduring hardship to succeed, and often speaks at business forums to preach his beliefs.

As for Teng, he will have to work on May 11, a Saturday, as part of the standard holiday arrangement.

“I feel very depressed because I have to work at least six days in a row,” he said.

FAQs About Chinese Workers’ Labor Day Vacation Arrangements

Q: What is the “tiaoxiu” policy?
- A: The “tiaoxiu” policy, also known as adjusted rest, is a practice in China where workdays are moved to weekends to create longer vacations during major holidays, such as Labor Day.
Q: Why are Chinese workers upset about this year’s Labor Day vacation arrangements?
- A: Many Chinese workers are upset because they are required to work extra days on weekends before and after the holiday, and only one out of the five vacation days falls on a weekday.
Q: What has been the response on social media regarding the vacation policy?
- A: Complaints about this year’s Labor Day leave arrangements have exploded on Chinese social media, with hashtags like “tiaoxiu policy for May Day” drawing millions of views. People are expressing frustration over the lack of genuine holidays and the impact on their physical and mental well-being.
Q: Why is the “tiaoxiu” policy causing controversy this year?
- A: Workers are increasingly afraid of losing their jobs if they ask for extra leave on top of the officially sanctioned holidays, and they feel pressured to work harder due to economic challenges. This has led to widespread discontent and criticism of the policy.
Q: How does the “tiaoxiu” policy affect workers’ ability to take time off?
- A: The policy often results in a scramble for travel tickets, inflated hotel prices, and chaos at tourist spots. Workers feel they are not getting the rest they need and are being forced to work harder without adequate time off.
Q: What other holidays are affected by the “tiaoxiu” policy?
- A: In addition to Labor Day, the policy also impacts holidays like the Spring Festival and National Day, creating longer breaks known as “Golden Weeks.”
Q: What factors are contributing to Chinese workers’ dissatisfaction with the policy?
- A: Economic challenges, fear of job loss, and pressure to work harder have all contributed to workers’ dissatisfaction. Companies are trying to improve productivity while cutting costs, leading to increased demands on employees.
Q: Are there any exceptions to the “tiaoxiu” policy?
- A: Some companies, like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), do not require workers to come in on the designated “special working days.” However, such exceptions are rare.
Q: How does China’s statutory paid time off (PTO) compare to other countries?
- A: Chinese workers have only five days of statutory paid time off per year, which is much less than many other countries. This lack of adequate time off exacerbates the impact of the “tiaoxiu” policy.
Q: Are there any movements advocating for better work-life balance in China?
- A: Yes, there are movements among independent businesses advocating for better work-life balance, such as offering “sadness leave” for employees who need time off for mental health reasons. However, such initiatives are still relatively rare.