A Glance At The Toxic Work Culture in China

China, we say that no economy of any country can ever hope to survive without the efforts of its employees and labor staff. The very essence is vital for life to function properly within its borders. In layman’s terms: no employees/laborers equal to no solid economic standing. With this concept in mind, you’d think that a country would be indebted to its employees. Sadly, this point of view is misleading. Furthermore, most countries, especially those with huge population statistics, rarely ever care about the state of their employees. Scroll down to read more about the toxic work culture in China!

The Toxic Work Culture in China: 996-Work Culture

Let’s take India as an example: the biggest democracy in the world. The country has horrendous working conditions with no improvements in sight for its working class. Indian workers and laborers are subject to some of the worst working conditions in the world. Having no access to AC’s in the summer, no heaters in the winter, and no protection from the natural elements.

Therefore, the Indian labor force is at risk of injury and even death every time they enter the workplace. Yet, it is on them that the Indian economy depends. The farmer’s harvest is export quality and makes up India’s 18.43% annual GDP. This results in the Indian farmer making next to nothing but feeding the whole world.

In addition, China, a country raising the bar for all others in means of industrialization, is sadly the same. The average person anywhere in the world has a standard 9 AM – 5 PM work schedule, five days a week. In China, workers, on average, are likely to work from 9 AM – 9 PM, six days a week. Hence, with this prioritization of work over all other aspects of life, Chinese laborers work harder for longer.

The Toxic Work Culture in China: Government Laws

The government has banned this ‘996 work culture’. Alas, some companies and startups continue to implement this rule on their employees. By exploiting their employee’s lives, they get more done for their companies. China, up until very recently, has been playing catch-up to its more advanced economic rivals. Working long hours and weekends is a way to make up for lost time and get ahead of the competition.

The Exploitation Of The Chinese Laborer

In China, this 996-work culture is the norm. The main reasons that the public abides by these strict laws are:

• The money,
• Peer pressure.

Thus, people aren’t that secure financially because the Chinese government caters more to affluent people.

A job promises a stable income, a home, and a consistent life. The average Chinese laborer feeds their family’s bellies on their own. Moreover, the funding for their children’s education is hard-earned. As for peer pressure, China never holds back from its neighbors. We talked before about how the Chinese are trying to outshine the USA’s workforce by implementing longer, more complex work shifts. However, an already existing competition is underway, which is between the Chinese people themselves.

Peer pressure leads people to work harder and better than their friends and family members.

The Toxic Work Culture in China: New Norms

So, it has become a norm that the Chinese now are working harder for longer hours. And the ones who don’t want to or the ones who make a mistake get to suffer. You see, while making the 996-work culture normal, they also made proficiency regular. Perfectionism normal.

All these big tech companies and their heads now think all their employees must work with perfect efficiency. And when they don’t, they usually become subject to workplace punishment and humiliation. Public humiliation and work punishments are now commonplace. Some of the many instances of workplace punishments coming out of China are highly humiliating. In one example, an employee was made to wear black pantyhose and dance around the office. Workplace toxicity pushed another employee to post that they were a free-loader on their social media. If the employees refuse such acts of humiliation and public punishments, they are jobless on the spot. Hence, this is the harsh reality of the toxic Chinese work environment.

The Chinese Youth’s Approach to Work Culture

Reports are coming from China that the new generation is no longer prioritizing these harsh workplace rules. Indeed, they no longer see the need to work under people who would do them more harm than good. Plus, if they wind up making an error, it must be taken as a mistake. The Chinese youth have seen how these companies and their heads have treated their predecessors. Their refusal to abide by the same behavior has dire implications for the current work climate.

Furthermore, younger employees now take shorter shifts and go out of the workplace to lunch with their acquaintances. In their ways, they push back the rules set upon the laborers set by these big corporation heads. The youth know that these big CEOs only see laborers and employees the same as robots, which means they don’t have any life of their own and sell them away by working full time.

Therefore, the Chinese youth has proven that by setting boundaries and downright refusing to abide by the strict laws set for their predecessors, they can turn the tide for the better for themselves and for all those who will come after them.

Conclusion

Over a few decades, China seems to evolve its economy and workforce to match and even outshine America’s. With people working longer shifts, employees are rarely expected to do anything other than work.

Hence, this constant ‘hustle’ culture may be very appealing: you stay busy, focus on your career, and earn money. However, the dark side of this culture is what most people never think about: the exploitation of the laborer.

What are your thoughts on toxicity at your workplace? Do you feel like this is an urgent issue to address? Moreover, did you enjoy reading this post? Let me know by commenting below. This will encourage me to write more exciting content. Interested to read more? Check our recent posts like Outlawed Foot-Binding in China and Finding The Perfect Spouse in China.

Edited by: Syed Umar Bukhari.

Disclaimer: At Sesame Disk by NiHao Cloud, we welcome a diverse range of options and point-of-views. This post contains useful information for entrepreneurs. However, the following should be noted:
– In general, this article does not include any medical or legal advice. If you require any medical or legal advice, you may consult a relevant doctor or a lawyer specific to your case. International and your local authorities may also have issued some advice which you may follow.
– Some of the points noted in this article may reflect the views of the writer only, and may not necessarily reflect the views of our team and the company.

Most countries are struggling in controlling the spread of coronavirus. However, no country has been able to control its spread better than China. This is a glaring fact, and denying this fact would be lying on its face.

China took the first hit from coronavirus and bore huge losses to economy

Since China was the first country affected by coronavirus, there was no previous data or experience available on how to respond. That was why, China took extreme steps to control the spread. The whole country of 1.46 billion people was locked down for about four months. This was only done in efforts to control the transmission of coronavirus. Those four months included the most important time of the year in China, when families get together for the Chinese New Year, and businesses thrive. In the end, all those restrictions really helped the country in putting the brakes on the spread. And that too in a very short time.

However, the imposed lock down had a great toll on economy. China’s economy contracted 6.8% in the first quarter of 2020. During this time, some 460,000 Chinese firms closed. This is the first ever contraction recorded since the reforms were adapted by the end of Mao’s era in late 1970s. All these losses to businesses and economy, forced China, like every other country, to apply restrictions on entry and exit for travelers. However, despite all these restrictions, a recent outbreak of coronavirus happened in Nanjing city of China on July 20, 2021. This outbreak was of Delta variant, but brought under control within a month. This recent outbreak proved that slightest of oversight could be disastrous for the country. Therefore, China still remains on a high alert in avoiding any new spread of coronavirus.

So Who Can Travel to China?

China closed its borders to nearly all travelers on March 28 last year, when the pandemic started spreading throughout Europe. Travelers with visa issued after March 28 can enter China on those visas.

China eased its restrictions after almost a year in March 2021 for select number of travelers from 23 countries. Starting from March 15th 2021, China is providing facilitation for reunion, work, and business visa applicants. However, all applicants are required to be inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China and obtain a vaccination certificate.

So, now you can travel to China in one of the three ways:

• If you are holding a valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters, and reunion
• If you are holding a diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visa
• Or you may apply for a new Chinese visa only for work or emergency humanitarian needs. The humanitarian needs could be such as visiting a seriously ill family member, or getting urgent medical treatment. If you already hold a valid old visa, your previous visa will not be cancelled.

How Traveling to China During Coronavirus Global Pandemic is Different than Before

The entry and exit restrictions in China vary by traveler’s location and are based on a number of factors. These factors may include traveler’s nationality, travel history, residency status, and/or vaccination status. These restrictions could also vary between different cities and provinces of China.

Let’s take a look at each of these requirements a bit closely.

Nationality and Travel History

Allowance to enter China depends on the current situation of coronavirus in your country, or the countries you have been to in the recent past. This includes the countries of your layover where you changed your flight to enter China. Chinese authorities may or may not allow entry if you are not flying directly from your country of origin to your destination in China. In most cases, if there is a hitch in your itinerary, the airport staff would communicate the possibilities before boarding. Or, in worst case, the airport staff may even deny you from boarding.

Visa Services and Vaccinations

Various Chinese embassies and consulates have announced an easing of visa restrictions for persons who can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with a China-produced vaccine. This means, all foreign nationals holding proof of vaccination with a China-produced vaccine, and their family members, may apply for a visa to travel to Mainland China. Also, now they may apply without producing additional documentation such as letters of invitation. Currently, Chinese embassies are only accepting applications for the resumption of work or for other permitted activities, excluding tourism.

COVID-19 Tests

The requirements for negative COVID-19 nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests are stringent enough for slightest of causes. If you are not vaccinated, but your IgM serum antibodies level is higher than the set criteria, then this may mean you have recently been infected with novel coronavirus.

The airline staff would require you to present the test certificates when boarding the flight. You must take the The negative nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests at the designated labs or institutions within the last 48 hours of departure. Some of my friends informed me that they did receive the negative nucleic acid test, but their IgM serum antibodies were higher than the required criteria, and therefore they were denied traveling.

Health Code

China has introduced a “health code” for foreigners traveling to China. The health code is an effective public health managing measure used in China’s anti-epidemic battle based on technology. This health code records dynamic information about personal health, including normal respiratory symptoms and nucleic acid test results. You may contact your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate for the guidance on how to get this health code for travel.

Flight Booking

For many countries, the flight operations are still restricted. As a result, most international routes are still not operating as they were operating before the pandemic. These restrictions on flights have caused the ticket prices to rise to extreme levels, and out of the reach of many. This price hike and flight schedules have generally made it difficult for most passengers to find their ticket on a flight.

Quarantine

You must undergo testing-on-arrival for COVID-19 and a mandatory quarantine. Some regions in China demand 14 days of quarantine, while others require 21 days. This may take place at a location designated by government (usually a hotel) or at your home. The stay at a hotel would cost you anywhere around 6000 Chinese Yuan (about $928) to 12,000 Chinese Yuan (about $1856), depending on the hotel’s star rating and services.

Things to Consider Before You Travel

• Traveling Cost: Traveling during coronavirus global pandemic is expensive. Your traveling cost may vary depending on the price of your ticket, nucleic acid tests, quarantine requirements and the food cost during quarantine. Also, if you get unlucky to catch coronavirus during travel, the treatment for COVID-19 may also cost you some extra money.
• Travel itinerary: Keep your travel duration as short as possible and avoid layovers, to avoid getting in contact with coronavirus during travel. If you can get on a direct flight from your country of origin to your destination in China, then that should be your best choice.
• COVID-19 SOPs: Keep in mind the general standard operating procedures (SOPs) of wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and frequently applying hand sanitizer or wiping your hands off with alcohol based napkins. You must also follow airport and airline staff’s advice during travel to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Quarantine Requirements: Obtain the latest requirements for quarantine before you plan your trip. It is also good to keep yourself updated with the latest situation before boarding. This will allow you to adjust your plan accordingly, if required.
• Vaccination Certificates and Negative Nucleic Acid Test Reports: These are must to have during travel.

Best Practices

• Always remember to consult the latest official information before making booking decisions.
• Obtain your vaccination certificate and take the negative nucleic acid test 48 hours before your departure.
• It is always good to consult your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate office for local information and requirements regarding boarding and departure.
• You should also check with your airline regarding arrival procedures and quarantine requirements.
• Before you plan your trip, you may also like to talk to your host, friend or some acquaintance in China for the local requirements and practices.

To prepare well for your travel, the more you know, the better it will be.

What to Expect after Completing Your Quarantine for Coronavirus?

After you complete your quarantine period in China, you will be allowed to carry on with your business. If you are an entrepreneur and traveling to China to work on your business, you may like to take a look at our article for the challenges you may face in your business.

As of August 27, 2021, about 56% of the population has already got the vaccine. Life in China is largely back to normal, but things can change fast in China. Regional lock downs are imposed every time there are new outbreaks of the virus.

The government still emphasizes on wearing face masks in public. Traveling in public transportation, including airplanes, trains, subways, taxis or public buses require you to show your QR health code and wear face masks all the time. All the restaurants, shopping malls, parks or other public areas also need to see your health code to allow entry.

In China, different cities have also maintained different restrictions on travel. The government has marked each city as Low Risk, Medium Risk, or High Risk area, depending on the current coronavirus situation. If you plan to travel within China to different cities, you must check with the local authorities regarding the requirements. The requirements may include a COVID test taken with the last 48 hours, vaccination and/or the green QR health code.

The color of the QR health code may change depending on the locations you traveled or people you met within the last 14 days

• Green: If your health code displays in green color, then it means that you are not formerly or currently confirmed or suspected coronavirus case. If you get the green color, it means you are allowed to travel through local transport. You can also enter any public area, business (such as restaurant) or a public building (such as shopping mall).
• Yellow: If your health code displays in yellow color then it indicates that you have been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. It also indicates that you are having fever, cough, sore throat, and/or shortness of breath. If your health code is yellow, then you will have to quarantine as indicated by the health authorities. You will also need to check your temperature at least twice a day, and require to avoid crowded places.
• Red: If your health code displays in red, then you are a certain or presumed coronavirus case. This may also mean that you have been in close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, including people who confirm in the health declaration that they have in fact been in unsafe contact with a confirmed coronavirus case within the past 14 days.

Disclaimer

The travel and other policies change quickly, depending on the current situation at large. You must double check with the local Chinese embassy, consulate or China visa center to ensure your trip.

The traveling restrictions and policies only apply to visa processing services offered by Chinese embassies and consulates in select locations. You must double check with your local Chinese embassy or consulate to determine if you are eligible to apply for visa, and information regarding travel requirements, quarantine and so on.