China, one of the world’s hardest-working countries, is adopting incentives to increase time off and potentially boost consumer spending. Christmas is not a public holiday on the mainland, yet some workers are encouraged to take breaks.
China has long been known for its hard work and long hours, which fuelled its economic rise. Now, the country is considering the benefits of longer breaks to potentially boost consumer spending.
According to the South China Morning Post, incentives are being adopted to increase time off. Whether in urban centres or remote rural areas, Christmas is not typically celebrated with the fanfare seen in the West. On the mainland, December 25 is not even a public holiday, with the lion’s share of enthusiasm reserved for the traditional Lunar New Year period beginning in January or February.
“My department head said that regardless of whether we have kids or not, as long as there’s nothing urgent at hand, everyone can take these days off,” said Zhang, who works at a local government office.
This shift highlights China's move from an intense work culture toward greater work-life balance, though details remain to be seen.
