Young ideas for a vibrant job market

As June 2022 comes to a close, those born in 2000 will soon be graduating and entering the job market.

On Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, people have shared snapshots of WeChat records where young job seekers and interns are seen firmly defending labor rights.

One of the snapshots shows a new intern refusing to put in extra hours unless paid extra for every extra hour worked. Another young person, when asked what he could do for the company, replied: "That depends on how much the company can pay me."

This attitude is in stark contrast to that of people born in the 1980s. Not surprisingly, someone remarked: "The 2000 generation is not only entering the job market, but also regulating it."

But that is actually something positive. For a long time, employees have been very accommodative of demands made by bosses, such as "Stay two more hours today" or "This weekend we need you" without complaining.

According to a report released by 51job.com, a domestic job-seeking website, 91.6 percent of employees surveyed in April had put in extra hours at work, but 40.5 percent of them never got any extra pay for it. Sometimes, even if they were paid extra, it was chicken feed.

What the 2000-generation is asking for is their legal right.

The demands the young are making will never ruin the job market as some are fearing.

On the contrary, it will inject new vitality into the market and make it better. We hope this transition is a smooth process.