The situation: A foreign employee at a Shanghai company is asked to stay two extra hours daily and work Saturdays, but his payslip shows only a flat salary with no overtime line.
Applicable law: Chinese law caps standard work at 8 hours a day and 44 hours a week. Overtime must be paid extra: 150% on normal working days, 200% on rest days (Sat/Sun) if no compensatory leave is given, and 300% on statutory holidays.
Outcome: The worker filed a complaint with the labor bureau attaching clock-in records and WeChat messages proving the hours, and the company was ordered to pay the differences retroactively.
👷 Labour disputes · Awareness case
Unpaid Overtime — The Law Counts Every Hour · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 工资支付暂行规定 / Interim Provisions on Payment of Wages
Can your employer make you work extra hours with no extra pay?
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: A flat salary does not cancel your right to overtime pay. Keep any evidence of your real working hours — it is the key to recovering what you are owed.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026