Work Overtime 说说加班

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Right after the Labor Day Holiday, this new survey, as we have been talking about, reveals over 70% of white collars in the 4 big cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai, are regularly overworked. Most people work for an average 10 hours or more a day, almost without rest. They don't sleep well, and often miss meals. The worst thing is they have got no pay for that.

There are a lot of comments in the media on this matter, so let's check some of them out.

Reporter:

One article from the paper Modern Express argues the competition in the labor market nowadays is fierce. So, many people are under a lot of pressure. They are aware of their rights written in the labor law. However, they dare not use it against their companies and bosses, or they may face the danger of losing their job. The writer regrets the law enforcement department hasn't fulfilled its duties in clamping down on this. However, the article says related department should help protect the rights of laborers in all ways, not just back-checking before and after the holidays.

One opinion from Guangzhou Daily says the timing of releasing the survey results is meaningful. The public has noticed large number of migrant workers and blue collar workers doing overtime during holidays. Now, we find out so many office workers are doing the same regularly.

The opinion says labor unions have been ineffective in protecting workers' rights. It also sites one regulation for example, that all employees should get triple pay working for the first three days during the May Day holiday. The fact is many companies have replaced salary with compensatory time off, or even nothing. In this case, labor unions shouldn't keep silent.

Another article from the paper Ji'nan Times says overtime doesn't only mean increased intensity and higher pressure but tired bodies and minds. It says most people have been forced to live with that. The article gives two reasons:

Number one, the surplus in labor force has surely added to people's worries about losing their jobs. Number two, people have low expectations for the social welfare system. Therefore, they have to work hard in order to secure their future.