China’s economy continues to slump, with local finances under increasing pressure, leading to delays in salary payments, cuts in subsidies, and even wage arrears for many public servants. Several interviewees have indicated that a sense of passivity is spreading among personnel within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) system, with many grassroots government workers now just aiming to avoid trouble. Their work attitude has become lax, with many simply passing time until the end of their shifts.
In recent times, mainland internet users have been discussing issues such as reduced salaries, canceled bonuses, and financial difficulties affecting public servants on social media platforms. Discussions on financial strain at the grassroots level have emerged in various regions such as Shandong, Hebei, Henan, and the Northeast, with reports of teachers, healthcare workers, and even civil servants facing salary delays.
Tang Jie (pseudonym), an insider in Changsha, revealed to a media outlet that an increasing number of public servants are no longer taking their jobs seriously and opting for passive resistance.
According to Tang Jie, this behavior is particularly apparent at grassroots levels. Many are aware that local financial difficulties may not be resolved quickly, leading to a lack of confidence in future income. Tang Jie stated, “Many are now just biding their time, avoiding work when possible. Previously, there was ambition for promotion, but now everyone knows there’s little chance, as long as they aren’t criticized.”
Recently, a netizen from Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, posted a video showing local commerce department officials inspecting shop rental ads door-to-door, requiring businesses to uniformly display them in specific formats and positions. The video sparked discussions among netizens.
Some insiders have noted a shift towards formalized management in some grassroots departments as local finances worsen in recent years, leading to a decrease in work related to economic development.
Mr. Song, a retired civil servant from Hebei, disclosed to the media that many public servants are growing dissatisfied with the government, believing that continuing down this path will inevitably lead to trouble. He mentioned, “Now, most civil servants are complaining, constantly mentioning how the economy has deteriorated, insisting someone must be held accountable. It’s always about the same person, but no one dares to name them. Meetings in Handan’s various grassroots units have almost turned into political studies sessions, with the actual work content being increasingly minimal, just rhetoric.”
He added, “Young people used to present ideological reports at weekly political study sessions, but even they now see through it, choosing to ‘lie flat’ and pass the time. The leaders are always focused on the People’s Daily, deciphering its messages.”
In recent years, complaints about delayed salaries, suspended performance bonuses, and depleted petty coffers have surfaced in chat groups among grassroots civil servants in Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Shandong. Governments in Fujian and Jiangsu have openly urged agency officials to tighten budgets and “live frugally.”
A resident of Changsha, Mr. Yang, highlighted that on one hand, public servants are becoming increasingly apathetic at work while on the other hand, there are stringent controls on pension payments.
He remarked, “An elderly neighbor in her nineties has to visit the Social Security Bureau twice a year to prove she’s alive; otherwise, they withhold her pension. How has our country reached such a state, that even public servants are ‘lying flat’ as they have no money to claim? ”
Former department head Mr. Yang, once a civil servant, attributed the widespread passivity among public servants to deteriorating local finances and changing political environments. He stated, “Before 2019, local governments expanded by relying on land finances and investments. The civil servant system kept recruiting. However, after the real estate market crashed, budget allocations reduced, and the government couldn’t earn enough. They had to cut bonuses, but civil servants still live better than common folks. They have canteens, and even fines and various other income sources.”
Discussions surrounding concepts like “lying flat,” “slacking off,” and “muddling through” have emerged on social media platforms in recent years. Some netizens have described the work attitude of civil servants as “working to clock out and counting days until retirement.” However, discussions related to civil service benefits, financial crises, and system issues are promptly removed.