Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A manufacturing company in southern China has scrapped a controversial policy that restricted employee bathroom breaks to just two minutes after intense backlash from workers and legal experts. The Three Brothers Machine Manufacturing Company in Guangdong province introduced the "Toilet Usage Management Rule" in early February, claiming it was aimed at boosting productivity and improving workplace discipline. According to internal guidelines, employees were only allowed to use the restroom at specific intervals during the day, with each visit limited to two minutes. The rule was set to be officially implemented on March 1, with non-compliance resulting in a 100 yuan fine. However, the policy sparked widespread outrage. Chen Shixing, a lawyer from Guangdong Yiyue Law Firm, warned that the rule violated Chinese labor laws. “Companies cannot impose arbitrary restrictions that endanger employees’ health and violate their fundamental rights,” he said. Employees also voiced their frustrations online, with one worker calling the policy “unscrupulous” and citing traditional Chinese medical texts that stress the importance of rest. Following nationwide criticism, the company has announced that it would revoke the rule. ICA/Expat Media
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