Guolaosi and 996: overwork deaths in China

Guolaosi (过劳死) is Chinese for "death from overwork". 996 means working 9am to 9pm, six days a week. In August 2021, China's top court and labour ministry said a 996 company rule breaks the law. China has no legal definition of guolaosi. Families claim through work-injury insurance, under strict rules.

Maybe your company expects long nights as normal. Maybe someone in your family collapsed after months of overtime. This page sets out what the law says, and what claiming is really like.

What does 996 mean?

The name comes from the hours: 9am, 9pm, 6 days. That adds up to about 72 hours a week, before travel.

Chinese law sets much lower limits:

Working hours rule in China	Limit	Source
Normal hours (State Council, 1995)	8 hours a day, 40 hours a week	State Council Order 174
Labour Law, Article 36	No more than 8 hours a day, 44 hours a week on average	Labour Law
Overtime, Article 41	Usually 1 hour a day; up to 3 hours for special reasons; never more than 36 hours a month	Labour Law
Overtime pay, Article 44	150% on workdays; 200% on rest days with no time off in return; 300% on public holidays	Labour Law

A 996 week has about 32 hours of overtime. The legal limit is 36 hours in a whole month.

Is 996 legal in China?

No. On 26 August 2021, China's top court spoke clearly. The Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) published 10 typical cases about overtime.

In the first case, a company's rules said: work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. A worker refused, and the company dismissed him. The ruling said the rule seriously breaks the legal limits on overtime, so it is invalid. The worker was protecting his legal rights. The dismissal was unlawful, and he was paid compensation.

Another case said something just as important. A "voluntary" promise to give up overtime pay is also invalid.

These typical cases guide judges and arbitrators across China. They are not new laws. But they show clearly how the law should be read.

How many people die from overwork in China?

We do not know. We could not find any official national statistic on guolaosi. You may see big numbers online. They do not come from the government or from peer-reviewed research, so we do not repeat them.

The government does publish average working hours. In September 2026, people working in Chinese companies worked 48.3 hours a week on average. For all of 2025, the average was 48.6 hours. Both are above the 44-hour limit in the Labour Law.

Can a family claim compensation for guolaosi?

Sometimes, but the rules are strict.

China's Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance (工伤保险条例), Article 15, says a death counts as a work injury when the worker:

• dies suddenly of an illness at work, during working hours; or
• dies within 48 hours, after emergency treatment fails.

This is often called "the 48-hour rule". In practice, it leaves many families out. A death at home after a long shift usually does not fit. Neither does a death after more than 48 hours in hospital.

Some people want to change this. In March 2025, a member of the National People's Congress proposed extending 48 hours to 120 hours or more. In June 2026, experts again called for change. As of October 2026, the rule has not changed.

How do you apply for work-injury recognition?

Article 17 of the same regulation sets the deadlines:

Who applies	Deadline	Source
The employer	Within 30 days	Regulation, Art. 17
The family or a trade union, if the employer does not	Within 1 year	Regulation, Art. 17

You apply to the local social insurance department. Keep every record you can: hospital notes, attendance records, work chat messages and pay slips.

If there is a dispute with the employer, labour dispute arbitration is free. The law says so (Article 53).

Is overwork linked to suicide?

Heavy stress at work can harm mental health. But suicide is never caused by work alone. WHO says the reasons are "multi-faceted".

Most people under heavy pressure at work do not become suicidal. Help works. In mainland China, you can call 12356, the national psychological help line. It is connected everywhere in the country. Hours depend on your province. In Beijing, it is open 24 hours.

Where can you get help in China?

• 12333: the national line for labour and social security questions. Staff answer during working hours, and a recorded service runs 24 hours (MOHRSS).
• Labour dispute arbitration: free, at your local arbitration commission (law).
• 12356: emotional support, by phone (People's Daily).
• Medical emergency: call 120.

What can you do today?

If you work 996 or close to it, start keeping a private record of your hours. Take photos of rosters and save messages that ask you to stay late. Keep copies off work devices. See a doctor if you feel chest pain, dizziness or constant exhaustion.

Our guide to overwork warning signs and your rights explains which signs need a doctor now.

If you lost someone, we are so sorry. You have the right to ask questions about how they worked. One small step today is enough.