China’s Top Court Says Excessive ‘996’ Work Culture Is Illegal

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China’s Top Court Says Excessive ‘996’ Work Culture Is Illegal

China has issued its most detailed warning yet against the excessive-work culture that pervades the country’s largest corporations, as a backlash grows against the punishing demands of the private sector.

The Supreme People’s Court and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security published a lengthy essay Friday about labor violations and unreasonable overtime, labeled ‘996’ because of the common practice of working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. It outlined 10 court cases -- including but not limited to the tech industry -- in which employees were forced to work extra hours, or put in harm’s way.

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