Want to moonlight and double your income? Head to this Chinese province offering incentives to side hustlers
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Chinese government officials in one southern province of China are now allowed to moonlight, that means they can pursue side jobs to double their income, provided they observe a few strict guidelines, as per a report.With budget woes and increased financial stress, Hunan province in southern China has informed government workers that it's now officially okay to moonlight, according to a Reuters report. Whether driving for a ride-sharing app, delivering food, writing novels, being an instructor for fitness classes, or even hawking farm produce, local bureaucrats can now legally earn extra cash on the side, apart from their regular job, as per the Reuters report.ALSO READ: Should H-1B Visa holders buy a house in the US amid job instability? A viral Reddit post sparks heated debate But there is a catch: their side business is not a conflict of interest, has to be vetted by their managers and supervisor, and should not affect their official duties so that there are no time-management issues, then they can do part-time jobs, as per the report. These rules were laid out in a recent edition of the official newspaper of Hunan province, reported Reuters.The policy also states that public funds cannot be used for private gain, and exploiting official power to make a profit is off-limits, according to Hunan Daily's recent post on its social media account this week, reported Reuters.ALSO READ: NIO stock surges over 4% after Morgan Stanley says Buy following new SUV Onvo L90 launch A user on Chinese social media pointed out that, "All this suggests government employees are going to have a hard time," as quoted in the report.The new rule on allowing other sources of income comes as financial hardship among Chinese households has increased in recent years as the world's second-largest economy was impacted by its exit from three years of costly zero-COVID disruptions, according to the Reuters report. The consequences of that are being felt even among government staff, who were once thought to hold unbreakable "iron rice bowl" jobs, reported Reuters.Even China's fiscal revenue slowed significantly last year as it rose just 1.3% compared with a 6.4% rise in 2023, which has dented government coffers, according to the report. Even revenue from land auctions by local governments to developers fell 16%, amid a protracted real estate downturn, reported Reuters.One Chinese social media user had shared that "My friend has hailed a ride and was picked up by a civil servant," as quoted in the report.The financial condition has deteriorated so that some provincial authorities have even cut bonuses and salaries, according to the report. A few civil servants even revealed that they had not been paid for months and were surviving on savings and borrowings, with many working multiple jobs on the side, as reported by Reuters.According to Reuters, currently employment is a key priority for policymakers across all sectors, and even Chinese President Xi Jinping said earlier this week that China must "focus on stabilising employment, enterprises, markets and expectations."On Wednesday, Beijing even launched new measures to stabilise employment, such as expanding social insurance subsidies and special loans, reported Reuters.Yes, in Hunan province they can, but as long as they follow clear rules and get approval.No. The extra work must not interfere with their primary job responsibilities, as per the report.
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