Key facts
- Chinese workers are expressing support for EU regulations against forced labor and excessive overtime on social media.
- The EU's Forced Labour Regulation, set to take effect in December 2027, bans goods produced with involuntary work.
- This sentiment emerges amid mounting EU-China trade tensions over economic imbalances and weak labor protections in China.
- Analysts note that workers see potential leverage in foreign law enforcement mechanisms to address domestic labor disputes.
- Despite censorship, discussions about the EU regulation and reporting procedures are gaining traction online.
The European Union is finding unexpected support from Chinese workers as trade tensions with Beijing escalate, particularly concerning economic imbalances and labor practices. Chinese workers are increasingly voicing their grievances about excessive overtime and poor labor protections on social media, seeing the EU's upcoming Forced Labour Regulation as a potential ally.
The EU has given China until October to address imbalances that it claims are harming domestic industries and leading to layoffs. A key EU complaint is China's weak domestic demand, partly due to sluggish wages and insufficient labor protection, which forces Chinese producers to seek overseas markets. The EU's Forced Labour Regulation, adopted in 2024 and effective from December 2027, bans goods produced with involuntary work, including excessive overtime, a practice prevalent under China's "996 culture" (12-hour shifts, six days a week).
Online discussions on platforms like RedNote show Chinese users supporting sanctions against forced labor and sharing information on how to file complaints with EU authorities. Analysts suggest this online interest reflects growing concerns over a weakening labor market and competitive pressures from employers facing deflationary price wars. Mingwei Liu of Rutgers University noted that companies may be more responsive to the threat of losing access to Western markets than to domestic labor disputes.
Despite efforts to limit the reach of such content on some platforms, the topic's emergence highlights that many Chinese people do not equate exporters' interests with national interests. Xiao Qiang of China Digital Times stated this marks a significant moment where domestic labor grievances are directly linked to foreign law enforcement mechanisms. While the EU Commission has received informal allegations, it has not noted a recent increase in formal complaints.
Some social media users also suggested directing complaints to the U.S., which in July imposed tariffs on goods from various partners, including China, citing failures to curb forced labor. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson indicated that evidence of "extreme, systemic unpaid overtime" could lead to supply-chain investigations.
Official figures indicate that Chinese workers average more than 48 hours per week, exceeding the legal cap of 44 hours, suggesting weak enforcement of worker rights. Some Chinese companies, like appliance maker Midea, have introduced mandatory clock-off times. Lu Ming, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, warned in March that other countries might view China's price competitiveness as stemming from intensive work and poor quality of life, potentially leading to trade barriers and damaging China's image.