Government and Policy

New work start time for 810,000 in Beijing

By Nie Ligao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-11 16:29

More than 810,000 Beijingers will start work 30 minutes later from Monday as a measure to ease the metropolis' worsening traffic congestion, according to a new regulation made by the capital's authorities.

Those affected mainly include municipal organs of the Communist Party of China, governmental departments at all levels, social units, public institutions, state-owned and collective enterprises under the governance of Beijing municipality.

However, schools, hospitals in Beijing and other units directly administrated by the central government are exempt.

The shift would affect about 810,000 commuters who used to work from 8:30 am to 17:30 pm and the new time table will be from 9 am to 6 pm.

In order to alleviate the traffic headache, Beijing implemented a driving restriction system which bars some cars off roads on certain days and developed public transport networks on a large scale such as subways and the rapid bus system.