Chinese workers usage the EU ban on forced labour products to publicise systemic overtime. Films with instructions for reporting companies collected over 200,000 views on Douyin. The rules will start to apply on 14 December 2027, and for Poland fair competition with imports based on violations of labour rights is at stake.
Workers look at access to the European market
Chinese netizens shall supply website addresses, contact details and instructions to aid inform EU institutions of possible breaches of labour law. Reuters reported on 26 August that the materials marked Douyin with slogans concerning the EU notification procedure exceeded 200,000 views. 1 of the videos explaining how the announcement was filed collected 5442 likes and 714 making available.
The mention point is the alleged culture 996: work from 9 am to 9 p.m. in the evening for six days a week. authoritative data cited by the agency indicate that the average working week in China exceeds 48 hours, although the statutory limit is 44 hours. On the RedNote platform, an entry supporting sanctions for forced labour gained almost 3,000 likes, after which it was removed.
It's a crucial signal. The employees felt that a dispute with their employer might be disregarded, but the threat of losing access to western customers touches the company in the most delicate place. Mingwei Liu, manager of the Centre for Global Work and employment at Rutgers University, pointed out to Reuters just this difference in pressure.
The ban will start in December 2027
EU Regulation 2024/3015 prohibits the placing on the EU marketplace and the export of products resulting from forced labour. Includes goods irrespective of the sector and country of origin. The rules will apply from 14 December 2027.
Legal precision must be maintained. all overtime does not become by the specified fact of exceeding the standard of forced labour. The Regulation refers to the definition of work carried out under punishment and without the employee's voluntary consent. However, extreme, systemic and unpaid overtime can be a hazard signal to launch the supply chain study.
A typical of the European Commission has told Reuters that the services have received informal reports of infringements, including excessive overtime, but have not late observed a clear increase in the number of notifications. The authoritative common reception point is to take effect only with full application of the rules. The current wave of interest is so primarily public force and an effort to prepare the ground.
The Chinese cost model hits European industry
The case is bigger than a single conflict in a factory. According to Reuters, Europe's trade deficit with China was around $1 billion a day last year. Brussels has given Beijing until October to address imbalances that weaken European production and jobs.
Low wages, mediocre workers' protection and overproduction aid Chinese exporters lower prices. A European standard company does not compete only with productivity. It is measured by a model in which any of the costs were passed on to the employee. Free Trade and Protectionism Dispute must not ignore this basic distortion.
For Poland, this means force on betting, wages and ability to keep its own industry. It's not about closing the marketplace for ideological reasons. It is about enforcing 1 measurement against the Polish and abroad producer. Wider China's economical and political ambitions have them look at access to the European marketplace as an instrument of influence, not an unconditional privilege.
Brussels has a tool, countries must watch the performance
The EU ban can service the Polish interest if applied on the basis of evidence, efficiently and equally. Federalization is not needed here. Effective national authorities, customs control and transparent procedures are needed in which the importer can present papers and the decision is subject to judicial review.
Poland should usage the fresh rules to defend fair competition while ensuring that the Commission does not turn them into a recognised political instrument. Chinese workers show where the real lever is: at the gateway to the common market. Warsaw is to guarantee that this gate protects the Polish worker and entrepreneur.
Source: Reuters, European Commission, EUR-Lex.
Source: Bankier.pl
