The sudden death of Chinese tech worker due to overwork has triggered a furore in the country, with many raising voices against the return of the toxic ‘996 culture’.

The 25-year-old reportedly died soon after he was admitted to a hospital from his home on Saturday afternoon, The Guardian reported.

The video platform Bilibili, where the man was working as a content auditor, said company representatives went to the hospital to assist and then notified his family.

The incident triggered outrage in China's social media platforms after it merged that the man, who had worked throughout a week-long public holiday, died of a brain haemorrhage.

However, the company defended itself saying that the 25-year-old, whose name is yet to be revealed, had been working from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm for the past week, with no overtime.

"The death of this excellent worker is not only an enormous loss to the company, but has also served as a wake-up call to us," Bilibili said in a statement.

“We should make active improvements in checking up on the physical health of employees to prevent similar tragedies from happening again,” it added.

On Monday, social media platform Weibo was buzzed with the hashtag "Bilibili worker” on Monday when a workplace blogger reported the man’s death, citing anonymous colleagues claiming that he was forced to work overtime, reported AFP.

The same day, a Weibo user claiming to be the man's sister wrote a long post thanking the blogger and alleging that Bilibili tried to suppress news of his death internally.

“Is it that hard to give a sincere apology? Does my brother's twenty-something-year-old life not count?” she wrote, in a post that gained over 870,000 likes.

According to Chinese law, businesses should not allow their staff to work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week, and overtime is restricted to 36 hours a month.

But several Chinese companies still operate through the ‘996’ work mode, where it is expected from the employees, especially in the tech industry, to work from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week.

The expectation has in the past been promoted by high-profile figures including the Alibaba founder, Jack Ma.

(With inputs from agencies)

The sudden death of Chinese tech worker due to overwork has triggered a furore in the country, with many raising voices against the return of the toxic ‘996 culture’.

The sudden death of Chinese tech worker due to overwork has triggered a furore in the country, with many raising voices against the return of the toxic ‘996 culture’. The 25-year-old reportedly died soon after he was admitted to a hospital from his home on Saturday afternoon, The Guardian reported. The video platform Bilibili, where the man was working as a content auditor, said company representatives went to the hospital to assist and then notified his family. The incident triggered outrage in China's social media platforms after it merged that the man, who had worked throughout a week-long public holiday, died of a brain haemorrhage. However, the company defended itself saying that the 25-year-old, whose name is yet to be revealed, had been working from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm for the past week, with no overtime. "The death of this excellent worker is not only an enormous loss to the company, but has also served as a wake-up call to us," Bilibili said in a statement. “We should make active improvements in checking up on the physical health of employees to prevent similar tragedies from happening again,” it added. On Monday, social media platform Weibo was buzzed with the hashtag "Bilibili worker” on Monday when a workplace blogger reported the man’s death, citing anonymous colleagues claiming that he was forced to work overtime, reported AFP. The same day, a Weibo user claiming to be the man's sister wrote a long post thanking the blogger and alleging that Bilibili tried to suppress news of his death internally. “Is it that hard to give a sincere apology? Does my brother's twenty-something-year-old life not count?” she wrote, in a post that gained over 870,000 likes. According to Chinese law, businesses should not allow their staff to work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week, and overtime is restricted to 36 hours a month. But several Chinese companies still operate through the ‘996’ work mode, where it is expected from the employees, especially in the tech industry, to work from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week. The expectation has in the past been promoted by high-profile figures including the Alibaba founder, Jack Ma. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese worker falls prey to ‘996’ work culture, reigniting overtime debate

Alibaba founder Jack Ma who had recently said that overtime work culture in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/12-hours-a-day-6-days-a-week-work-schedule-blessing-for-youngsters-jack-ma-210791"> China was a "huge blessing"</a> surprised everyone when he declared on China's social media handle weibo that with "996 work culture" an employee should also follow the "669" mantra that is having sex six days a week.

Ma's latest comment created a social media storm in China. According to Ma's “669” rule employees should have sex for six days, sex six times, with emphasis on duration.

“At work, we emphasise the spirit of ‘996’. In life, we should follow ‘669,’“ Jack Ma said. "I personally think that being able to work 996 is a huge blessing," he had said.

"Many companies and many people don't have the opportunity to work 996," Ma said, adding, "If you don't work 996 when you are young, when can you ever work 996?"

Ma's latest comment on sex six times in six days was even posted on the company's official weibo account even as several Chinese social media users did not particularly like his latest mantra.

Ma, a former English teacher had co-founded Alibaba in 1999 which has now become a unicorn creating a new benchmark in e-commerce with only Amazon as its competitor. Alibaba was able to beat back Amazon in China making it an invincible giant at home.

"In this world, everyone wants success, wants a nice life, wants to be respected," Ma had said.

"Compared to them, up to this day, I still feel lucky, I don't regret (working 12 hour days), I would never change this part of me," he said.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma who had recently said that overtime work culture in China was a "huge blessing" surprised everyone when he declared on China's social media handle weibo that with "996 work culture" an employee should also follow the "669" mantra that is having sex six days a week.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma who had recently said that overtime work culture in China was a "huge blessing" surprised everyone when he declared on China's social media handle weibo that with "996 work culture" an employee should also follow the "669" mantra that is having sex six days a week. Ma's latest comment created a social media storm in China. According to Ma's “669” rule employees should have sex for six days, sex six times, with emphasis on duration. “At work, we emphasise the spirit of ‘996’. In life, we should follow ‘669,’“ Jack Ma said. "I personally think that being able to work 996 is a huge blessing," he had said. "Many companies and many people don't have the opportunity to work 996," Ma said, adding, "If you don't work 996 when you are young, when can you ever work 996?" Ma's latest comment on sex six times in six days was even posted on the company's official weibo account even as several Chinese social media users did not particularly like his latest mantra. Ma, a former English teacher had co-founded Alibaba in 1999 which has now become a unicorn creating a new benchmark in e-commerce with only Amazon as its competitor. Alibaba was able to beat back Amazon in China making it an invincible giant at home. "In this world, everyone wants success, wants a nice life, wants to be respected," Ma had said. "Compared to them, up to this day, I still feel lucky, I don't regret (working 12 hour days), I would never change this part of me," he said.

Jack Ma's '669' advice to Alibaba employees: Have sex six times in six days

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Chinese worker falls prey to ‘996’ work culture, reigniting overtime debate

Jack Ma's '669' advice to Alibaba employees: Have sex six times in six days