China’s new measures in the quest to boost birth rates

Too long working hours: an obstacle to birth rates

According to a report published in November 2024 by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the average number of hours worked per week in the country amounts to 48.9. This figure represents an increase compared to the 46.7 hours per week recorded in 2019 and shows a trend towards increasingly longer working hours.

The impact of these long working hours can be seen directly in the personal lives of workers. Wu Ruoshi, a 28-year-old girl, told the newspaper South China Morning Post: “We barely have time to rest and much less energy to think about dates or starting a family.”

More free time, higher birth rate

A team of researchers from Stanford University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Peking University carried out a pioneering study to evaluate the impact of more flexible work models on birth rates.

The experiment focused on employees of Trip.com Group, one of China’s leading technology companies. Between 2021 and 2022, 1,612 workers participated in a hybrid work model that combined in-person and remote workdays. The results were conclusive: productivity was not affected, but job satisfaction and employee retention did increase.

“Family conciliation has become a crucial issue for countries like China. We are all facing the crisis of low birth rates. “We are now exploring ways to allow our employees to better organize their family life.” These were the words of James Jianzhang Liang, president of Trip.com, during an international conference of the company in Abu Dhabi.

The four-day week: a solution under evaluation

Buoyed by the study results, Trip.com has embraced the hybrid model across its 36,000-employee workforce and is considering even bolder moves. Among the proposals, the four-day work week stands out, with 10-hour days. This is an idea inspired by similar experiences in Japan and other countries.

This model could improve the company’s competitiveness in the labor market and is aligned with the Chinese government’s incentives to promote births from the business field.

Liang himself expressed his support for these initiatives: “I hope this hybrid workday model can be promoted to more employers.” In addition, he stressed that reducing working hours could be key to addressing one of China’s biggest demographic challenges.

Lessons from Japan

Japan is a country with a similar demographic situation, so when observing the measures taken there and their results, it is an encouraging example.

In 2022, the Japanese company Itochu Corp eliminated night shifts and allowed its employees to telework, in addition to implementing more flexible schedules. These measures resulted in a significant increase in the number of children among its employees. Daycare centers were also established near the offices to facilitate the raising of children.