The humble yet arduous worker is fundamental to the creation of modern China. But as a new study shows, the workers that have ushered the country into a new era of prosperity are paying a heavy price.
The number of hours worked by a Chinese worker is the highest in the world at 44.6 hours a week. At the same time, a Chinese worker is only given an average of ten days off a year, far fewer than those in other countries.
A study published by Beijing Normal University shows 90 percent of China’s industries have their employees work more than the standard 40 hour work week with an average of four hours of overtime. The hospitality and food industry are the worst, with employees putting in 51.4 hours a week on average.
Chinese staff are estimated to work between 2,000 and 2,200 hours a year, a rate comparable to those in developed Western countries from a hundred years ago.
The report also details a number of labor issues affecting Chinese workers, with those long hours being the biggest problem. Overwork is the top occupational hazard resulting in the most illnesses and deaths in China. Construction and mining jobs are also dangerous, with the study noting 75 percent of Chinese workers who suffer from occupational diseases are miners. Most of those have black lung disease.
Work pressure is also blamed for causing depression and suicide.
Chinese workers must also face long commute times. Beijing tops the list of Chinese cities with the longest commute at 97 minutes, with Guangzhou in second place at 92.2 minutes.
As well, Chinese workers get fewer paid holidays than workers in other countries. Chinese workers are commonly rewarded five paid days off from work only after working a full year with a company.
Here is the full infographic from Caixin:
Photos: Caixin, Asia Today, nipic