Key practical points:
• Standard working hours are generally around 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week.
• You are entitled to weekly rest days and to the official public holidays.
• Overtime must be paid at a higher rate, and the rate is higher on rest days and public holidays.
• The minimum wage is set locally and differs from one city or province to another.
• The employer must provide safe and healthy working conditions.
• This law is the foundation, while the details of an individual contract are governed by the Labour Contract Law.
👷 Labour law
China's Basic Labour Law · Yalla China
中华人民共和国劳动法 / Labour Law
Enacted: 1994-07-05 ✅ Effective: 1995-01-01
📝 Overview
The basic Labour Law sets out working hours, rest days and holidays, overtime pay, minimum wage and safe working conditions. It is different from the Labour Contract Law.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
As an employee in China, this law gives you a baseline of rights: reasonable hours, rest and fair overtime pay. If an employer imposes long hours without compensation or ignores the local minimum wage, these are signs of a violation. Remember that the minimum wage and details vary by your city, so check your own region's rules. This is a general orientation only and not formal legal advice.
📎 Official source
mohrss.gov.cn / npc.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026