Hubei Provincial Human Resource and Social Security Department has released a document on irregular work times.
The document states that companies must file an application to social security departments above the county level if they need to adopt a special work hour system, irregular working hours, or combined working hours. In addition, they need to consult with the trade unions or the workers themselves on the way of working, and publicize the result to all workers for no less than five days.
Irregular working hours are often adopted by companies whose work can not be done according standard work time due to the nature of their businesses. Senior managers, logistics staff, sales persons, long distance transportation workers, and taxi drivers all work under the uncertain time working system. Combined working hours is often adopted by companies that don't operate continuously due to limited seasons or other conditions. Railway departments, postal services, aviation, and the fishing industry often belong to this category.
The document says that companies adopting combined work hours must not have their employees work for more than an extra 36 hours each month and they must pay the employees 150% of their hourly salary if their employees are asked to work for more than eight hours a day and pay them 300% of their salary if they are asked to work during legal holidays.
