Volkswagen Forces Chinese Workers To Make Up Lost Production Due To Covid With 11 Hour Days

Workers at a factory in Chengdu, which VW runs as a joint venture with China's FAW Group, have been told to work eleven-hour days to meet demand, Reuters reported.

The extra three hours are said to be on top of a usual eight-hour shift and come after the factory suffered a two-week shutdown in November because of a parts shortage caused by Covid sickness at a supplier.

Volkswagen is attempting to revive its fortunes in China, its largest market where it makes half of its profits.

The sudden policy shift in China from strict lockdowns to a substantial relaxation of rules has wreaked havoc with manufacturing. Production lines can grind to a halt without workers with the correct skills present to operate them and the sudden end of restrictions has led to a wave of illness and absence.