Chinese Firm Limits Toilet Breaks to 2 Minutes in Fixed Slots

A firm in southern China has generated controversy for strictly limiting use of the restrooms. Three Brothers Machine Manufacturing Company, a Foshan, Guangdong province-based company, has put into effect a ‘Toilet Usage Management Rule’ that takes effect on February 11 and restricts employees to using the restroom only during specific time slots and for no more than two minutes per use. The firm asserts that this policy is meant to improve workplace discipline, efficiency, and attitudes of employees.

Toilet Slots and Penalties

Workers are only allowed to visit the toilet prior to 8 a.m., from 10:30 to 10:40 a.m., from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., from 3:30 to 3:40 p.m., and between 5:30 and 6 p.m. For the workers on overtime, they can only take their breaks at the toilet after 9 p.m. Outside of these windows, staff members can only use the restroom for emergencies and must still comply with the two-minute time limit, the South China Morning Post reported.

To ensure compliance, the company stated it would keep employees under surveillance through cameras and fine violators 100 yuan. The policy, which was first implemented on an experimental basis, will take effect fully from March 1. An unnamed employee confirmed to Yangcheng Evening News that the rule is already in place, although the precise number of workers involved is unknown.

Reference to Ancient Text

In its defense of the decision, the company quoted Huang Di Nei Jing, or the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, a classic Chinese medical text that has been dated as more than 2,000 years old. As a core text of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the book is commonly referred to as the “birth of medicine” in China and is an important part of TCM theory.

Health and Legal Issues

The policy has also been criticized by attorneys, who assert that it not only violates labor law, but is also harmful to the health of workers. Chen Shixing, an attorney at Guangdong Yiyue Law Firm, said that “any changes to working conditions—such as wages, working time, rest breaks, holidays, and health and safety measures must be negotiated and agreed on by employees or their representatives.”

Moreover, the policy mandates that employees with medical conditions requiring restroom use during off-limits hours must obtain permission from human resources. Nevertheless, any time spent on such visits will be deducted from their salaries.

Chen also reiterated that employees are entitled to challenge and report any workplace policies that compromise their health and well-being.