Chinese workers are using social media to discuss excessive overtime and how to report labor violations to the European Union, highlighting a divergence between exporters seeking overseas markets and workers seeking stronger protections ahead of EU-China trade talks. The EU ran a trade deficit with China of roughly $1 billion a day last year and has given Beijing until October to address imbalances that it says are hollowing out domestic industries and causing mass layoffs. Brussels links weak Chinese domestic demand to sluggish wages and insufficient labor protection, which depress imports, including from Europe, and push producers toward overseas markets amid overcapacity and deflationary price wars. The EU Forced Labour Regulation, adopted in 2024 and taking effect in December 2027, bars goods made with imposed or involuntary work, including excessive overtime. It has drawn attention among workers who complain about 996 culture, typically 12-hour shifts six days a week. Posts on RedNote and Douyin shared support for sanctions and instructions for filing complaints, although some were removed or had their reach limited. Analysts say the interest reflects labor-market concerns and the possibility that access to Western markets could give workers leverage over employers. The European Commission has received informal allegations, including excessive overtime, but no noticeable recent increase in complaints. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said evidence of extreme, systemic unpaid overtime could trigger supply-chain investigations. Official figures show Chinese people work more than 48 hours a week on average, above the legal cap of 44, while Chinese officials have warned that weak labor protections could lead to trade barriers.