The 15th Five-Year Plan Prioritizes "The Right to Rest.”

At the conclusion of the National People's Congress in Beijing this March, China's leadership formally endorsed the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which features an unusual focus on social welfare and labor reform. Departing from the "growth at all costs" era, the plan sets a moderate GDP target of 4.5% to 5.0% for 2026, allowing more room for environmental and social adjustments. One of the most discussed proposals in the plan is the official push for a "Right to Rest." This includes exploring the expansion of minimum statutory annual leave (from 5 to 10 days) and discouraging "off-hours" digital work communication. The Congress also adopted a landmark Ecological and Environmental Code, which provides a consolidated legal framework to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, transitioning from controlling "energy consumption" to controlling "total carbon emissions."

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