China retail icon Yu Donglai faces rare public backlash over 4-year contract plan

Yu Donglai, founder of Pangdonglai supermarket chain, proposed limiting new hires to non-renewable four-year contracts, sparking rare public criticism in China. The move marks a deviation from his established pro-worker image, though it remains a proposal and not yet implemented. The backlash signals potential reputational risk for a prominent business figure and may reflect broader labor-market tensions.