The prominent businessman who championed the 72-hour work week is doubling down on his polarizing stance, urging young Indians to “get a life first and then worry about work-life balance.” To justify the hours, he’s pointing directly to China.
What is the 996 Rule?
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The Schedule: 996 stands for working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week.
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The Math: That totals 72 hours weekly, exactly what the leader is advocating for.
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The Comparison: He said his family office staff went to China to understand the ground reality, where they learned the saying “9, 9, 6.” He even called the Prime Minister, who supposedly works 100 hours a week, “a shining example of hard work.”
The Chinese Reality vs. The Pitch
The thing is, the leader who made the 72-hour remark left out the most important part of the 996 story: It’s illegal in China.
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The Crackdown: China’s labor laws cap a standard week at 44 hours. After years of major burnout, talent leaving big cities, and reports of overwork-related deaths, Chinese authorities, including their Supreme People’s Court, declared the punishing 996 schedules illegal in 2021.
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The Burnout: The culture, once glorified by tech tycoons, has caused massive burnout and pushed young professionals to reject high-pressure city careers in favor of a “slower, more relaxed life” in smaller towns.
The Indian Backlash: The Pay Gap is the Kicker
The social media reaction was swift and brutal, centering on the vast disparity in compensation and working conditions:
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“The pay’s also according to the 996 rule, not peanuts which you pay in your company.”
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“Dear sir, FYI, 996 rule is only applicable in India if you are ready to pay a monthly salary of ₹1–2 lakh to a junior software engineer,” critics argued, referencing starting Chinese salaries that are significantly higher than Indian IT industry norms.
The debate is less about the abstract value of hard work now, and more about the fundamental economic bargain: if you want China’s hours, you better offer China’s pay, or nothing. The younger generation has spoken.
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