Pinduoduo worker’s death renews scrutiny of 996 work culture

The so-called 996 office schedule has spurred criticism following complaints from tech workers and earlier deaths, but tech billionaires like Ma (pic) have endorsed the practice as necessary for survival in an intensely competitive industry and the key to accumulating personal wealth. — AP

The recent death of a Pinduoduo Inc employee renewed criticism of the long hours commonly practiced at China’s tech companies, which are already under scrutiny by regulators for anti-competitive business practices.

The e-commerce company confirmed that a female employee collapsed while walking home with colleagues at 1.30am on Tuesday. The employee, who was born in 1998 and joined Pinduoduo in July 2019, could not be resuscitated and died after nearly six hours of first aid, according to a statement. Her death sparked a social media backlash against Pinduoduo and the relentless working schedules expected of its employees, with a hashtag about the incident drawing more than 200 million views on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo service.