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Opinion>China | |
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Limits on overtime must be enforced
A better labour standard is also a great boon to cities like Beijing which are vigorously pressing ahead with modernization. Yet, unless it is strictly implemented, the overtime limit will satisfy few. Some white-collars will welcome the new effort by the labour and social security authorities since their bosses will now be banned from extending paid overtime willfully. Working to top capacity during busy times, employees are still often unable to finish their duties ?even with extended hours. Instead of finding some new hands, employers usually tend to prolong the work shift for the sake of cost-saving. However, to put an end to such practices may increase some enterprises?labour cost. On the other hand, to give tacit consent to the status quo will entice some employers to exploit the overtime cap as an excuse to demand voluntary unpaid overtime work. So, the merit of the new rule hinges on the authorities?resolution and ability to carry it out forcefully. At a time when unemployment pressure keeps mounting, such a overtime limit looks like a luxury for the numerous jobless. The oversupplied domestic labour market has put job-seekers at a disadvantage in negotiating labour contracts with enterprises. It is true that the government has to throw its weight behind enterprises to create more jobs. But it is also the government's obligation to aggressively defend the legal rights of employees. In this sense, Beijing's overtime limit is not far-fetched for any labourer. But the municipal government needs to strictly enforce the new regulation to prove it is part of an overall strategy to protect worker's rights. (China Daily )
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