Why can't China stop working overtime?

为何中国难以遏制加班之风?

Round Table China

2026-04-06

23 分钟
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In 2025, China averaged 49 hours a week. Laws exist. Awareness exists. So why nothing changing? Today we ask: who actually benefits from your long hours—and what would it take to stop? On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve
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  • discussion keeps the world turning.

  • This is Roundtable.

  • You're listening to Roundtable.

  • I'm Fei Fei, together with Steve Heatherly and New Honglin.

  • Coming up, in 2025, Chinese employees on average worked 49 hours a week.

  • We have a law, we have awareness existing.

  • The white seems nothing really is changing.

  • And today we ask, who actually benefits from long working hours and what would it take to stop it?

  • Our podcast listeners can find us at Roundtable China on your podcast platform.

  • And please don't forget that we want to hear from you as well.

  • An email is great and a voice note is super great.

  • So send those our way to roundtablepodcasts at qq.

  • com with your thoughts on any of the issues we discussed or haven't really touched on the show.

  • It's one of those rare issues where there's almost no disagreement.

  • Ask a CEO, a factory worker, or a policymaker.

  • They'll probably all say the same thing.

  • Excessive overtime at work is a problem.

  • It's bad for health, it's bad for productivity, and also bad for families.

  • Then why does it feel impossible to stop?

  • We have our labor law.