(Sichuan, 25th) To boost consumption, the news that Mianyang City in Sichuan Province, China is trialing a '4.5-day flexible work system' made it to the hot search list on China's social media on the 24th. While many netizens are looking forward to it, there are also many skeptics calling on officials to first implement the two-day weekend and tackle companies that exploit workers.
In an effort to promote tourism consumption, several places in China have successively introduced documents encouraging the flexible implementation of a 2.5-day weekend. Since it is not mandatory, only a handful of government agencies and private enterprises have implemented it so far.
According to comprehensive reports from local media like Red Star News and Jimu News, the Mianyang City Bureau of Commerce recently released the 'Mianyang City Special Action Plan for Boosting Consumption 2025 Work List', with the goal to 'comprehensively enhance residents' consumption capacity and market vitality'.
The 'work list' mentions enforcing annual leave and paid vacation policies, encouraging flexible leave arrangements by enterprises, and promoting shared leave for couples. It suggests 'trialing a 4.5-day flexible work system' and encourages areas that are able to implement the 'Friday afternoon combined with weekend' 2.5-day leave mode.
After the news broke, 'the 2.5-day leave mode is really coming' made it to the hot search list on platforms like Weibo, with netizens interpreting it as Mianyang promoting the 4.5-day work system.
However, a staff member from the Mianyang City Bureau of Commerce stated on the 24th that the relevant document states encouragement for areas with conditions to implement a 4.5-day flexible work system, 'but it is not a mandatory requirement.'
While many Chinese netizens are looking forward to it, expressing envy towards civil servants, there are also many complaints, calling on officials to first ensure the implementation of the two-day weekend, 8-hour work shifts, and to address companies that still implement 996 (working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) and alternate weekends off. 'Many people can't even achieve two days off a week, so a 4.5-day work system seems far-fetched.'
Encouraging the 'Friday afternoon plus weekend' 2.5-day leave mode is not appearing in official documents for the first time. More than 10 Chinese provinces such as Hebei, Jiangxi, and Chongqing have previously issued opinions encouraging the 2.5-day leave.
In an effort to promote tourism consumption, several places in China have successively introduced documents encouraging the flexible implementation of a 2.5-day weekend. Since it is not mandatory, only a handful of government agencies and private enterprises have implemented it so far.
According to comprehensive reports from local media like Red Star News and Jimu News, the Mianyang City Bureau of Commerce recently released the 'Mianyang City Special Action Plan for Boosting Consumption 2025 Work List', with the goal to 'comprehensively enhance residents' consumption capacity and market vitality'.
The 'work list' mentions enforcing annual leave and paid vacation policies, encouraging flexible leave arrangements by enterprises, and promoting shared leave for couples. It suggests 'trialing a 4.5-day flexible work system' and encourages areas that are able to implement the 'Friday afternoon combined with weekend' 2.5-day leave mode.
After the news broke, 'the 2.5-day leave mode is really coming' made it to the hot search list on platforms like Weibo, with netizens interpreting it as Mianyang promoting the 4.5-day work system.
However, a staff member from the Mianyang City Bureau of Commerce stated on the 24th that the relevant document states encouragement for areas with conditions to implement a 4.5-day flexible work system, 'but it is not a mandatory requirement.'
While many Chinese netizens are looking forward to it, expressing envy towards civil servants, there are also many complaints, calling on officials to first ensure the implementation of the two-day weekend, 8-hour work shifts, and to address companies that still implement 996 (working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) and alternate weekends off. 'Many people can't even achieve two days off a week, so a 4.5-day work system seems far-fetched.'
Encouraging the 'Friday afternoon plus weekend' 2.5-day leave mode is not appearing in official documents for the first time. More than 10 Chinese provinces such as Hebei, Jiangxi, and Chongqing have previously issued opinions encouraging the 2.5-day leave.