Working Through the Holidays: China's Dedicated Workforce During Lunar New Year

In the outskirts of Beijing, Wang, a woman from the city, was driving to work at the stroke of midnight when she crossed the border between Beijing and the province of Hebei. Her car passed by a police checkpoint in Langfang City, Hebei, where the intelligent security system recognized her and automatically allowed her to pass through. This incident highlights the non-stop commitment of some Chinese citizens to their work, even during national holidays.

As the rest of China celebrated the Year of the Rabbit, many workers still reported to their jobs. For instance, a woman nicknamed 'Mei' chatted on social media about her day working at a convenience store. She mentioned that, while it was relatively quiet, there were still customers who popped in to buy last-minute holiday necessities.

Similarly, a user named 'Ironman' shared that they were working at their company, attending to customers who came for business needs. They admitted to being surprised to see people coming in for work, asking other social media users if they were at work too.

Some users on Weibo, a popular microblogging platform in China, expressed their understanding and support for those who had to work during the holiday. "Give an example of when your elder sister agreed with it. Your elder sister thinks working close to home is quite convenient. Right, your elder sister hasn't graduated yet. Someone once told her that one path is obviously good, so why don't you take it? Dear friends, whether this path suits me or not is something I have to decide for myself," one netizen wrote, defending those who worked during the holiday.

The topic of working during holidays has been a contentious one in Chinese society. While many appreciate the dedication of their fellow citizens, others argue that these individuals should be able to take time off to spend with their families or pursue personal hobbies.

The topic was further fueled by a recent survey conducted by Zhaopin, a major Chinese recruitment platform, which showed that over 56% of white-collar workers in the country felt obligated to answer work-related calls and messages even during the festive season.

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Meanwhile, netizens shared their plans and experiences on social media. One user described their day of shopping for groceries, updating their home décor, and playing mahjong. Another shared their plans of heading to their workplace to restock shelves and Place their day-end with a game of "Deserted City: Ultimate" - an online multiplayer game.

The Chinese government offers a generous amount of public holidays, with the Lunar New Year celebration being one of the longest, spanning across 8 days from February 10th to February 17th. However, the day before the New Year, known as Chinese New Year's Eve or chuxi, does not fall under the category of a statutory holiday. Hence, overtime pay does not apply for those who work on that day.

Despite these provisions, many Chinese workers are still driven to work on the holidays due to various reasons including job security, financial constraints, and personal ambitions. As China continues to develop and modernize, the debate on work-life balance and the right to leisure during holidays is expected to continue.

However, not all is lost for those who chose to work during the festive season. One user named 'Mei' shared their positive experience at the convenience store, mentioning how it was quieter than usual, allowing them to relax and enjoy themselves. This suggests that, for some workers, the quieter periods during the holiday season could be an unintended benefit.

In conclusion, while a considerable part of China enjoys their week-long public holiday, a significant number of workers continue to show up at their jobs. Through instances such as Wang's automated passage through the police checkpoint, or 'Mei's quiet day at the convenience store, we can see the varied experiences of these dedicated workers during the Lunar New Year holiday.

While the debate on work-life balance and the right to leisure during holidays continues, the commitment and dedication of these workers serve as a reflection of China's ever-evolving work culture.

All quotes have been translated from Chinese to English.