Chinese analysts propose four-day work week

Beijing. Jul 18. Silkroadnews - The best analytical centers in China have proposed a four-day 36-hour work week as a part of reforming the current system of public holidays by 2030, Xinhua writes.
The report, published by the National Academy of Economic Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and CASS Tourism Research Center, outlines the development of the leisure and recreation industry in China.
The report says this industry is still underdeveloped due to people’s lack of free time, lack of market products and shortage of recreational facilities and services.
The report says, once the labor productivity has reached a certain level, China should gradually abandon the current system of golden-week holiday system, where the weekend and paid leave are postponed so that people have seven consecutive days of holiday.
The analysts suggested extending the celebration of the Chinese New Year to eight days in the period from 2020 to 2025, making the Lantern Festival a public holiday, and introducing a four-day (36-hour) work week first in large and medium-sized state enterprises in some industries in the eastern region. Starting from 2025, some industries in the eastern and central regions can introduce a four-day working system before it becomes national, starting in 2030, the report proposed.
A survey of 2,552 respondents across the country showed that 40.1% had no paid annual leave, and 4.1% could not take a break, even if they had paid annual leave. The survey also showed that only 31.3% had an annual paid vacation.
In 2017, the average leisure time of the Chinese people was 2.27 hours a day, and less than three years ago - 2.55 hours. According to the previous report by China Central Television and the State Statistics Bureau, people in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing had even less leisure time - 1.94, 2.04, 2.14 and 2.25 hours respectively. Workers in China have half as much free time as workers in the United States, Britain and Germany, the report said.
It also notes, employees should negotiate with their employers according to their needs and arrange their vacations in a flexible way in future, the publication reads.