As the Chinese New Year approaches, the Communist Party leader Xi Jinping recently made a “condolence” visit to the grassroots, putting on a “people-friendly show”. However, a “condolence video” broadcasted by CCTV unexpectedly backfired online.
According to a video aired on CCTV on February 10th, Xi Jinping visited sanitation workers, food delivery drivers, and couriers at the grassroots level. Xi Jinping asked, “How many hours do you work in a day?”
One female sanitation worker replied with a smile, “From morning until night, more than ten hours.”
Sharp-eared netizens immediately noticed that working more than ten hours a day clearly violates labor laws. However, instead of questioning the issue of overtime work, Xi Jinping praised them, saying, “It’s tough work, the city cannot operate without you, fulfilling the needs of thousands of households. Our party committee and government must pay attention to you. I wish you a happy new year.”
Xi Jinping’s response quickly sparked a wave of criticism online, with many netizens mocking, “Working more than ten hours a day is illegal. Doesn’t Xi Jinping know that?” “Xi Jinping himself ignores labor laws, sanitation workers work ten hours a day, and Xi Jinping just says to care about them.” “Giving so much money to Asia, Africa, and sending empty talk to show concern. Think about how to improve the wages, benefits, and welfare of sanitation workers.” “This is the so-called ‘labor glory’ of these communist rogue countries. It is a thousand times more despicable than the capitalists they criticize.”
Some netizens sarcastically commented, “It’s a fantasy to make this high and mighty cold-blooded dictator truly understand the hardships of the people.” “It’s hard to imagine this is a 21st-century country, and the top leader’s attitude towards labor exploitation.” “This kind of perfunctory show is cringeworthy, giving goosebumps.”
Other netizens pointed out, “Those who have participated in such activities should know that, as a precaution, almost everyone present is basically a civil servant pretending, except for Xi Jinping.” “A few civil servants pretending as delivery guys. They don’t understand each other’s job, and it ends up hurting themselves!”
The incident has stirred up heated discussions and debates on social media platforms, shedding light on labor rights, the role of leaders, and the reality of working conditions at the grassroots level in China.