The characters combine very literally. `工作 (gōngzuò)` is the common word for “work” or “job”. Adding `制 (zhì)` turns it into a “system”. So, `996工作制` translates directly to the “9-9-6 Work System”.
The 996工作制 is a cornerstone for understanding the pressures of modern urban life in China. It emerged from the hyper-competitive tech industry in the 2010s, where startups and established giants alike adopted these grueling hours to outpace rivals. The phenomenon sparked a massive online protest in 2019 on the code-hosting platform GitHub, called “996.ICU”. The name implied that following a 996 schedule would land you in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This movement brought international attention to the issue and highlighted a growing resistance among Chinese youth. A key cultural concept invoked to sometimes justify 996 is `奋斗 (fèndòu)`, or “striving/struggling,” a value deeply embedded in the narrative of China's economic miracle. Proponents, like Alibaba's Jack Ma who famously called 996 a “huge blessing” (福报, fúbào), argued it was the price of success. However, critics argue this co-opts a positive value to justify illegal and exploitative labor practices.
This term is used widely in conversations about work, careers, and social issues.