Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba ( BABA ) has stated on social media in recent days in support of Chinese work practices known as "996." The number refers to working from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week and is said to be common among the country's major technology companies and startup.
"If we find things we like, 996 is not a problem," Ma said in a blog post Sunday on Chinese social media site Weibo. "If you don't like [your work] every minute is torture," he added.
Ma comments contributed to criticism from Chinese social media.
"Have you ever thought about the elderly at home who need care, (or) the children who need company?" wrote a Weibo user with online moniker stupidcan1[ads1]23, in response to Ma's posts. "If all companies enforce a 996 schedule, no one will have children" due to lack of time, they added.
Chinese state media also beat the companies that make the staff for long hours in the office, without referring to Mother's position directly. "Preparing hard work and commitment does not mean that overtime is being forced," wrote the People & # 39; s Daily Newspaper in a comment published Sunday. "The mandatory enforcement of the 996 overtime culture not only reflects the arrogance of business executives, but is also unfair and impractical."
"Not just overtime service"
Ma said he did not intend to defend his practice of working long, but wanted to "celebrate" the employees who did so.
"The real 996 is not just overtime work," he said and added that everyone has the right to choose their own lifestyle, but those who work shorter hours "will not taste the happiness and benefits of hard work. "
Ma is undoubtedly China's most famous entrepreneur. Technique tycoon was famous born into a poor family and did not succeed academically. He started Alibaba using cash scraped together from friends.
The 54-year-old leader first entered the debate on China's long working hours on Thursday when comments he made to Alibaba Employees of 996 were posted on the company's Weibo account. Ma said he had never regretted working 12-hour days.
"I personally think 996 is a great blessing," he said . "How do you achieve the success you want without paying extra effort and time?"
Ma added that any potential employees in Alibaba, one of the world's largest technology companies, should be prepared to work 12 hours a day if they want to succeed. "Or why bother? We don't lack those who work eight hours comfortably," he said.
Other high-profile figures in China's technology industry have allegedly defended long hours in the technology industry. Richard Liu, founder of Alibaba-rival JD.com ( JD JD ) reported critical employees of the company who did not work hard as "slackers".
An Alibaba spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment to Mas social media or the company's overtime policy.
Long working days in the high technology sector are not unique to China. Tesla ( TSLA ) co-founder Elon Musk has previously said that he worked up to 120 hours a week when the electric car manufacturer struggled with production delays.
"There are many easier places to work, but no one has changed the world at 40 hours a week," he wrote
on social media Twitter last November.
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