Chinese Government Launches Crackdown on Grueling ‘996’ Work Culture

 

 

The Chinese central government has signaled a robust commitment to curbing the unsustainable work culture that has long burdened its labor market. In a recently unveiled action plan by the State Council, national and local authorities have been urged to bolster protections for workers’ right to rest and to clamp down on employers who unlawfully extend working hours—potentially offering employees a much-needed respite from the relentless “996” work schedule.

 

 

 

 

Recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal that working hours at domestic companies have steadily increased, reaching an average of 49 hours per week in 2024, up from 47.9 hours in 2022. Although overtime and the “996” culture have traditionally been tactics employed by companies to secure a competitive edge in a fierce market, evolving attitudes towards career, labor relations, and work-life balance suggest that such practices may be eroding employee engagement and loyalty. Notably, the current Labor Law stipulates a maximum of eight hours per day and 44 hours per week for employees.

 

 

 

 

In a striking example of the shift in workplace norms, Shenzhen-based drone manufacturer DJI recently trended on Sina Weibo after employees reported that they were not permitted to work overtime past 9 p.m. Similarly, home appliance manufacturer Midea has streamlined its work practices by eliminating after-hours meetings and overtime, reducing the number of work-related WeChat groups, and curbing any formalistic behavior.

 

 

Experts and industry insiders contend that these initiatives—aimed at reducing excessive working hours and optimizing work patterns—will not only protect employees’ rights but also enhance their physical and psychological well-being. The long-entrenched “996” culture has been widely criticized for undermining work-life balance and contributing to health and personal issues, making this regulatory push a significant step toward fostering a more sustainable and humane working environment.

 

 

State Post Bureau Probes Yunda Express Over Franchise Safety Lapses Amid Fraudulent Courier Scams

 

 

China’s State Post Bureau announced on March 19 that it has launched an investigation into the Shanghai business unit of Yunda Express over significant safety management shortcomings within its franchise network. According to the bureau’s website, critical gaps in oversight have allowed fraudulent promotional materials to infiltrate delivery channels, resulting in substantial financial losses for customers.

 

 

One notable case, highlighted by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on March 13, involved a woman in Jiangxi province who lost over 190,000 yuan (approximately $26,400) after scanning a QR code on a package that appeared to offer a 20-yuan voucher. The victim was directed to download an app and interact with customer service representatives, who then deceived her into transferring funds. In early March, authorities in Sichuan province intercepted more than 20,000 fraudulent courier packages, recovering over 800 parcels linked to similar scams. Police reported that scammers were using promotional leaflets inside packages to lure victims into these fraudulent schemes.

 

 

The investigation appears to have been triggered by a series of reports concerning counterfeit “prizewinning” materials sent via courier services, including those from Yunda. Consumers have reported receiving unsolicited packages containing gifts and QR codes promising cashback rewards, only to be drawn into scams.

 

 

In response to the probe, Yunda Express shares fell by over 2 percent on the morning of March 20. The company issued a statement on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s website the same day, pledging full cooperation with regulators. Yunda Express has established a special task force to conduct an internal investigation and has vowed to tighten oversight of its franchise operations. The company also plans to enhance inspection protocols, intensify franchisee training, and improve its ability to detect scam-related parcels.

 

 

This probe against Yunda Express is part of a broader regulatory effort to combat courier fraud, addressing growing consumer concerns over privacy breaches and package security.

 

 

Sinopec 2024 Earnings Slide Amid Declining Revenues and Profits, Casting Shadow on 2025 Outlook

 

 

On March 23, Sinopec released its 2024 performance report, revealing declines in both revenue and net profit. For 2024, the company achieved total revenue of CNY 3.07 trillion (approximately USD 420.55 billion), down 4.29% year-on-year. Net profit fell to CNY 50.313 billion (about USD 6.89 billion), a decrease of 16.79% compared to the previous year, while net profit excluding non-recurring items dropped to CNY 48.057 billion (roughly USD 6.58 billion), marking a 20.82% decline.

 

 

In the fourth quarter, Sinopec reported revenue of CNY 708.021 billion (around USD 96.99 billion), down 4.61% year-on-year, while net profit stood at CNY 6.066 billion (approximately USD 830.68 million), a 19.09% decline. Excluding non-recurring items, Q4 net profit plunged by 60.72% to CNY 4.09 billion (nearly USD 560.27 million).

 

 

 

 

 

The company’s operating cash flow reached CNY 149.36 billion (approximately USD 20.48 billion), down 7.5% year-on-year, while net cash flow from investing activities registered at –CNY 161.24 billion (about –USD 22.07 billion), a decrease of 3.45% compared to the prior year.

 

 

On the production front, Sinopec’s oil and gas equivalent output totaled 515.35 million barrels in 2024, up 2.2% year-on-year. Domestic crude oil production increased to 254 million barrels, a 0.9% rise, while natural gas production grew by 4.7% to 14,004 million cubic feet. Over the year, the company processed 252 million tonnes of crude oil and produced 153 million tonnes of refined oil, with gasoline production up 2.6% and kerosene up 8.6% year-on-year. Total refined oil sales reached 239 million tonnes.

 

 

In the chemicals segment, total operating volume was 83.45 million tonnes, up 0.5% year-on-year, with exports surging by 13.1%. Ethylene production for the year reached 13.47 million tonnes.

 

 

For context, Sinopec’s net profit was CNY 67.082 billion (approximately USD 9.19 billion) in 2022 and CNY 60.463 billion (about USD 8.28 billion) in 2023, reflecting declines of 5.79% and 9.87%, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

Market sentiment has been subdued, with Sinopec’s A-share price falling by 16.52% over the past six months to CNY 5.81 per share (roughly USD 0.80 per share), resulting in a total market capitalization of CNY 659.3 billion (approximately USD 90.27 billion). Its Hong Kong-listed shares are trading at HKD 4.25 per share, with a market cap of HKD 713.9 billion.

 

 

Looking ahead to 2025, while demand for natural gas and chemical products in China is expected to remain robust, refined oil demand may continue to face headwinds from the increasing adoption of alternative energy sources. As a result, Sinopec is poised to navigate a challenging operating environment in the coming year.

 

 

BMW China Partners with Huawei, Joining Audi in Digital Transformation Push

 

 

BMW China officially announced on March 17 that it has entered into a partnership with Huawei Terminal to introduce advanced digital services—including the BMW Digital Key, HUAWEI HiCar, and the MyBMW App—in the Chinese market. The BMW Digital Key, developed based on HarmonyOS NEXT, is set to launch later this year, while deeply integrated HUAWEI HiCar functionality will debut on domestically produced BMW next-generation models in 2026. According to BMW, nearly a quarter of MyBMW App users in China currently use Huawei devices.

 

 

 

 

Previously, BMW introduced both the MyBMW App and the MINI App on the HarmonyOS NEXT marketplace at the end of 2024. These apps enable users to activate BMW ConnectedDrive services, remotely control their vehicles, and check fuel and charging status, among other functions.

 

 

Similarly, FAW-Audi has also entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Huawei, aiming to significantly enhance product competitiveness through comprehensive integration of Huawei’s intelligent driving technologies. The FAW-Audi A5L has incorporated Huawei’s advanced driver assistance systems, featuring lidar technology to facilitate sophisticated assisted driving capabilities both on highways and in urban settings. Notably, as a combustion-engine vehicle, the A5L’s ability to adopt Huawei’s advanced intelligent driving solutions stems from its E³1.2 electrical architecture.

 

 

The collaborations between Huawei and premium automakers Audi and BMW extend beyond mere technological integration. They are poised to generate longer-term commercial benefits by leveraging Huawei’s HarmonyOS ecosystem to deliver value-added services such as digital keys and remote vehicle control. This integration opens the door to exploring new revenue streams such as subscription-based models and data-driven services. Such strategic shifts not only align with the broader automotive industry trend of “software-defined vehicles” but also represent a significant opportunity for premium brands like Audi and BMW to unlock future growth and profitability.

 

 

Baidu Executive’s Teenage Daughter Sparks Outrage in China Over Doxxing and Cyberbullying Incident

 

 

A cyberbullying controversy involving the 13-year-old daughter of a senior Baidu executive has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious privacy concerns in China. The teenager, whose father is Xie Guangjun, Vice President of Baidu’s Cloud division, has been accused by multiple social media users of participating in doxxing activities that resulted in the disclosure of sensitive personal details—such as real names, state-issued ID numbers, phone numbers, and IP addresses—of various online users. Additionally, Xie’s daughter reportedly took part in a coordinated online harassment campaign targeting a pregnant woman and sending hostile messages to her husband.

 

 

The pregnant woman had become the target of cyber harassment after criticizing the demanding work schedule of a popular K-pop star, attracting retaliation from the singer’s highly organized and hierarchical “fan circle.” Such fan circles have been associated with several high-profile cyberbullying and doxxing incidents in recent years.

 

 

On March 17, Xie Guangjun issued a public apology through his WeChat Moments, expressing profound remorse for his daughter’s actions and apologizing to everyone affected by the privacy violations, as reported by Chinese media outlet Yicai.

 

 

 

 

“As a father, I failed to detect and guide her behavior promptly, nor did I sufficiently teach her the importance of respecting and protecting her own and others’ privacy,” Xie wrote. “I feel extremely guilty and sincerely apologize to all affected individuals.”

 

 

Over the weekend, the incident triggered intense public backlash, with hashtags related to the controversy garnering hundreds of millions of views on China’s social media platform Weibo. Netizens expressed particular alarm over the teenager’s apparent ability to access and exploit sensitive personal information, questioning potential implications linked to her father’s influential role at Baidu.

 

 

The incident also emerged at a particularly sensitive moment for Baidu, coinciding with the company’s launch of new artificial intelligence models intended to strengthen its position in China’s rapidly growing AI market.

 

 

However, Baidu security chief Chen Yang stated in domestic media reports on Tuesday evening that an internal investigation revealed no connections between Xie Guangjun, the company, and the data leaks in question.