Inside China Tech: Analysing what’s behind the 996 GitHub protest in China

  • Millennial workers protesting against the gruelling work schedules in China’s tech companies
  • China’s impending cultural conflict as tech billionaires defend the 996 lifestyle as being the path to success

Employees working long hours at Chinese tech companies are protesting the “996” culture. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

This week, tech reporters Zen Soo and Zheping Huang chat with Digitally China podcast co-host Tom Xiong about the gruelling 996 (9am-9pm, 6 days a week) work schedules of Chinese tech companies.

Developers say the schedule is inhumane and that employees are overworked. Tech billionaires have defended the schedule, saying that hard work is needed to achieve success. Outside of China, South Korea and Japan are also known for their long work hours, while European countries such as Sweden, France and Germany boast some of the world's shortest working weeks and reported high levels of productivity. Are long hours equal to productivity - and more importantly does that come at the expense of stifling innovation?

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