This document explains the "996" work schedule, its definition, legal implications, and why it became the central focus of the 996.ICU project. If you're looking for information about the repository structure, see Repository Structure.
The "996" work schedule refers to an unofficial work schedule that has gained popularity among some Chinese technology companies. The numbers represent the working hours pattern:
Under a 996 schedule, employees work for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, resulting in a total of 72 working hours weekly.
The 996 definition appears consistently across all language translations in the i18n/ directory:
| File | Lines | Language | Key Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
i18n/en_US.md | 4-9 | English (US) | "996 working, ICU waiting" |
i18n/zh-Hans.md | 4-9 | Simplified Chinese | "996"工作制，即每天早9点到岗... |
i18n/zh-Hant.md | 4-9 | Traditional Chinese | "996"工作制，即每天早9點上班... |
i18n/pt_BR.md | 4-8 | Brazilian Portuguese | "996" - 9h às 21h, 6 dias/semana |
i18n/fr_FR.md | 4-7 | French | 9h à 21h, 6 jours par semaine |
i18n/ru_RU.md | 3-4 | Russian | с 9 часов утра до 9 часов вечера |
Sources: i18n/en_US.md4-9 i18n/zh-Hans.md4-9 i18n/zh-Hant.md4-7 i18n/pt_BR.md4-8 i18n/fr_FR.md4-7 i18n/ru_RU.md3-4
The 996 work schedule directly violates multiple Chinese labor laws and regulations. The legal framework is documented across multiple files in the i18n/ directory, with detailed article citations.
| Legal Document | Article | Key Provisions Violated by 996 | File Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution of PRC | Chapter II, Article 43 | Working people have the right to rest | i18n/en_US.md15-19 |
| Labor Law of PRC | Article 36 | 8 hour workday, 44 hour work week maximum | i18n/en_US.md26-27 |
| Labor Law of PRC | Article 41 | Overtime limited to 1 hour/day (3 hours special), 36 hours/month | i18n/en_US.md32-33 |
| Labor Law of PRC | Article 43 | Employers cannot violate overtime provisions | i18n/en_US.md35-36 |
| Labor Law of PRC | Article 44 | Mandatory overtime compensation (150%-300%) | i18n/en_US.md38-42 |
| Labor Law of PRC | Articles 90-91 | Penalties for labor law violations | i18n/en_US.md44-51 |
| Labor Contract Law | Article 31 | Cannot force overtime work | i18n/en_US.md55-56 |
| State Council Regulations | Article 3 | 8 hour workday, 40 hour work week | i18n/en_US.md73-74 |
According to i18n/en_US.md93-95 and i18n/zh-Hans.md98-102 employees working under a 996 schedule should receive 2.275 times their base salary to comply with overtime compensation laws:
However, employees working 996 schedules rarely receive proper overtime compensation, as documented in i18n/en_US.md93-95
Sources: i18n/en_US.md11-78 i18n/zh-Hans.md11-90 i18n/zh-Hant.md11-83 i18n/pt_BR.md10-30
The name "996.ICU" is a play on words originating from a self-deprecating joke among Chinese developers. It implies that by following the "996" work schedule, workers are risking their health to the point of ending up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The slogan appears consistently across translation files with language-specific nuances:
| Language | File | Lines | Translation/Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | i18n/en_US.md | 97-101 | "996 working, ICU waiting" |
| Simplified Chinese | i18n/zh-Hans.md | 100-104 | "工作996，生病ICU" (Work 996, sick ICU) |
| Traditional Chinese | i18n/zh-Hant.md | 96-100 | "工作996，生病ICU" |
| Brazilian Portuguese | i18n/pt_BR.md | 46-48 | "996 trabalhando, UTI esperando" |
| French | i18n/fr_FR.md | 60-62 | "996.USI" (Unité de Soins Intensifs) |
| Russian | i18n/ru_RU.md | 33-34 | Отделение интенсивной терапии |
The repository name serves as both a warning and a memorable slogan. As stated in i18n/en_US.md99: "Tolerating of the '996' work schedule will apparently result in creating health risk, which may send you to an Intensive Care Unit someday."
The final line "Developers' lives matter" (i18n/en_US.md101) emphasizes the human cost of excessive work schedules.
Sources: i18n/en_US.md97-101 i18n/zh-Hans.md100-106 i18n/zh-Hant.md96-102 i18n/pt_BR.md46-50 i18n/fr_FR.md60-64
Several high-profile Chinese tech companies have been documented implementing the 996 work schedule. These cases are preserved across multiple language versions in the i18n/ directory:
| Company | Date | Event | File References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58.com (58同城) | Sept 2016 | Implemented 996 for all employees, no weekend overtime pay | i18n/en_US.md81-82 i18n/zh-Hans.md86-93 |
| Youzan (有赞) | Jan 2019 | CEO announced 996 at annual gala: "definitely a right decision" | i18n/en_US.md83-85 i18n/zh-Hans.md95 |
| JD.com (京东) | Mar 2019 | Started 996/995 in some departments, PR: "wholehearted devotion" | i18n/en_US.md87-89 i18n/zh-Hans.md97 |
| Pinduoduo (拼多多) | Jan 2021 | 23-year-old female employee died from overwork at 1:30 AM | i18n/zh-Hans.md99 i18n/zh-Hant.md94 |
As documented in i18n/en_US.md91: "This work schedule is only gaining publicity recently. However, it has long been practiced as an 'open secret' in many companies in China."
The 996.ICU movement has attracted:
Sources: i18n/en_US.md79-91 i18n/zh-Hans.md86-99 i18n/zh-Hant.md84-94 i18n/zh-Hant-HK.md84-94
The 996.ICU repository was created as a grassroots response to these work practices. It serves multiple purposes:
The repository has expanded to include various related initiatives:
Sources: README.md32-39 README_CN.md37-45 README.md76-91 README_CN.md82-111
The 996 work schedule has significant documented impacts on worker health and well-being. The "ICU" in the repository name directly references these health risks.
The most extreme documented case is the death of a 23-year-old Pinduoduo employee who collapsed at 1:30 AM while returning from work (i18n/zh-Hans.md99 i18n/zh-Hant.md94). This tragedy exemplifies the repository's warning that "996 working" leads to "ICU waiting."
The Chinese Constitution guarantees workers the right to rest (i18n/en_US.md17-19):
Working people in the People's Republic of China have the right to rest.
The state expands facilities for rest and recuperation of working people and prescribes working hours and vacations for workers and staff.
The 996 schedule systematically violates this constitutional right by requiring 72-hour work weeks with only one day of rest.
| Aspect | Legal Standard | 996 Schedule | Deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work hours/week | 40-44 hours | 72 hours | +28-32 hours |
| Rest days/week | 2 days | 1 day | -1 day |
| Daily work hours | 8 hours | 12 hours | +4 hours |
| Sleep time available | ~8 hours | ~5-6 hours | -2-3 hours |
The repository emphasizes in i18n/en_US.md101: "Developers' lives matter." - a statement repeated across all translation files to underscore the human cost of extreme work schedules.
Sources: i18n/en_US.md97-101 i18n/zh-Hans.md99-106 i18n/zh-Hant.md94-102 i18n/en_US.md17-19
The 996 work schedule represents a significant deviation from legal labor standards in China. Despite being prohibited by multiple labor laws, it has become a common practice in parts of the Chinese tech industry. The 996.ICU repository aims to document these practices, advocate for workers' rights, and create tools (such as the Anti-996 License) to combat exploitative work schedules.
The movement emphasizes that developers' lives matter ("Developers' lives matter" is a slogan used throughout the repository) and that sustainable work practices are essential for both individual well-being and long-term industry health.
Sources: README.md7 i18n/en_US.md101 README.md62-68 README_CN.md65-74
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