Except for the "in the west" thing. This is a strictly Silicon Valley phenomenon, with the techbro oligarchs cashing in on the Trump presidency.

Oh wow. This is just batshit. No way in hell will I ever work for a company doing that. My mental health isn't great on 40 hours a week. I'd rather shoot myself.

The only way to become a billionaire is to viciously exploit the work of other people. It may happen directly or it may be a few intermediate steps away in the supply chain, but it has to happen. The problem is that wannabe billionaires don't always have the resources to build a large enough workforce to generate the necessary exploitation. 996 solves the problem by raising the level of exploitation to achieve similar results with fewer people.

Meanwhile, a large-scale study in Europe, involving more than 70 companies, found that switching to a 32-hour work week improved their overall performance. Most of the companies in the study retained the new schedule after the study concluded.

Big boss just issue you shall not work beyond 9-5. Corporates isnot democracy after all.

By dictatorial decree. That is how dictatorships works.

For China the only goal of this measure is to increase fertility rates. They do not want their people to live more comfortable lives, like the west.