Workaholic Shenzhen city makes leave time mandatory in first for China

Hours are gruelling in the Chinese tech sector, where "996"culture, which refers to working from 9am to 9pm and six days a week, is often celebrated. - Bloomberg

SHENZHEN (Reuters): The southern Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen, notorious for its long work hours, will become China's first city to require that workers take paid leave, a move to help reduce burnout that may be replicated in other parts of the country.

From next year, employers must strictly implement paid leave, so that those "with a heavy mental and physical workload can avoid excessive burnout", according to regulations approved in October and recently explained by the city's work committee, the government-backed Shenzhen News reported on Tuesday (Nov 10).