In recent days, a company in Shenzhen has sparked controversy with a peculiar job interview requirement: job applicants with a WeChat balance of less than 300 yuan (RMB) will not be granted an interview. The recruiting agency involved claimed that this measure was taken to “prevent employees without money from causing trouble.” Mainland Chinese netizens believe that this incident has exposed many underlying issues.
A chat record circulating online recently stated that candidates with a WeChat balance below 300 to 500 yuan would not be interviewed. In the leaked chat record, a staff member wrote: “Note: During the interview, we need to check the WeChat balance. Those with a balance below 300 to 500 yuan will not be interviewed because recently there have been more incidents of cash-strapped employees causing trouble.” The message included a location in Shenzhen.
According to reports, a representative from Gui Giant Human Resources, commissioned for recruitment, responded that this requirement was set by the recruiting party, Shenzhen Shuangyi Technology Co., Ltd., to prevent employees from leaving shortly after being hired and requesting wages, which has led to disputes.
Netizens have left comments expressing concerns such as: “Why isn’t the labor bureau investigating this company?” “Checking the balance now, what a strange operation?” “I want to check the boss’s company account, otherwise, how do I know if they can afford to pay me?” “Working should be rewarded with payment, how did it become causing trouble?”
Some internet users believe that the “WeChat balance check” incident in Shenzhen reflects that the current job market competition is not just about education and skills but has evolved into a competition of “economic resilience,” which is an additional burden for job seekers from the lower social strata.
Others pointed out that this requirement by the recruiting party exposes the financial difficulties many ordinary workers face and the potential for labor disputes with the hiring companies.
Moreover, some netizens think that categorizing normal salary negotiations as “troublemaking” reflects that some companies are trying to select employees with “some financial reserves who won’t cause disruptions easily” to avoid potential labor disputes.
In recent years, with the Chinese economy weakening and the United States imposing tariffs on China, many mid to low-end manufacturing industries in Shenzhen are shifting to Southeast Asia. The remaining positions in Shenzhen are either high-end research and development or the extremely competitive service industry, making it exceptionally challenging for ordinary operators and entry-level employees.
Fujian lawyer Fu Jian from the Henan Zejin Law Firm believes that a person’s WeChat balance falls under personal privacy information, and employers have no reasonable grounds to forcibly check the savings status on the interviewee’s WeChat. Using a candidate’s WeChat balance as a screening criterion does not comply with legal regulations. Interviewees can report such incidents to the labor supervision department and demand rectification.
According to data from the Tianyancha app, Shenzhen Shuangyi Technology Co., Ltd. was established in October 2006, with Pang Rongrong as the legal representative and a registered capital of 100 million yuan.
Legal litigation information indicates that the company has been sued in the past due to labor disputes, labor contract disputes, and disputes over reclaiming labor remuneration.