This debate is not new. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, debates on work-life balance have been plenty.
That gives rise to the question: Is India closer to adopting China’s 9-9-6 work culture?
China’s work policy
Chinese tech tycoon Jack Ma famously said it was a “blessing” for anyone to be part of the so-called “996 work culture,” where people work 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week, a BBC report revealed.
Tech companies like Alibaba, JD.com, Huawei, and Bytedance have been flagbearers of this work culture. Rooted in capitalist ideals, overtime work is what made China the “factory of the world.”
The BBC report in January found that workers at the suppliers of Chinese fashion brand Shein work for 75 hours weekly with low wages. It noted the basic wage without overtime was 2,400 yuan (£265; $327)—far below the 6,512 yuan declared by the Asia Floor Wage Alliance as the “living wage.”
China’s Supreme Court in August 2021 and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security declared ‘996’ work schedules illegal, stating that it was illegal to fire or take action against an employee who chose to refuse work under a company’s ‘996 policy’.
A 2021 study by the World Health Organisation found that overwork resulted in over 745,000 deaths annually from strokes and heart attacks. Between 2000 and 2016, deaths related to heart disease due to extended work hours increased by 42%, while stroke-related deaths rose by 19%.
ET reported in February that the rate of unemployment for those between the ages of 16 and 24 nearly hit 20% in January, meaning roughly one in every five Chinese simply cannot find a job. Worker protests over unpaid wages are increasing throughout China, reflecting a surge in dissatisfaction among millions impacted by factory closures.
Why does this matter for India?
From a series of debates and discussions—from Infosys cofounder Narayan Murthy’s 70-hour week remark to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman S N Subrahmanyan’s 90-hour week comment, Karnataka’s proposed 12-hour workday clause in certain sectors, including IT, and now Genpact’s 10-hour workday—India’s work culture is witnessing a transformative shift.
A similar pattern is emerging in India’s tech and services sector, and the country is inching towards its own version of ‘996’.
The Karnataka government seeks to extend the maximum working hours to 10 hours a day and the maximum overtime to 12 hours a day. It also seeks to increase the overtime limit from 50 to 144 hours in three months, as reported by ET.
Infosys made headlines in June as cofounder Narayana Murthy advised Indian youth to work for 70 hours a week to boost the economy. L&T’s Subrahmanyan had also sparked a controversy in the work-life balance debate by advocating 90-hour work-weeks for employees.
ET reported in January that India Inc is facing a rise in mental health challenges among employees. More than 90% of employees under 25 years of age are experiencing anxiety, compared to 67% for those over 45, emphasising the need for structured support for younger employees.
Ray of hope
Software services company Infosys is warning employees spending longer hours during their remote work period, flagging health risks and urging them to focus on work-life balance, doing away with the earlier remark by the cofounder.
Infosys has reportedly introduced a new monitoring system to track remote working hours. Employees are now expected to work nine hours and 15 minutes per day, five days a week, and any excess time spent working remotely will trigger an alert.
Chinese company Pang Dong Lai, a retail chain business, announced publicly that the employees at the chain will be entitled to additional leaves and perks at times when they are not at their mental or emotional best, which was termed as “unhappy leaves,” ET reported in April last year.
Even policies around silent hours during work shifts, dedicated meditation zones, parental leaves, etc., are prominent change makers to support work-life balance and foster employee well-being.
