Primarily the result of observations made during an eighteen-day tour of the People's Republic of China (conducted by Professor Eugene Gilliom at Ohio State University), this paper examines working conditions and attitudes toward work in China. Focus in the first half of the paper is on motivation to work in China and how it differs from U.S. attitudes about individual freedom, security, and job satisfaction. The economic history of East and West are briefly traced (as parallel paths out of feudalism) to point up the resulting contrast in political and social context. Noting Chairman Mao's statement that "Our God is the masses of Chinese people," the author cites evidence of that philosophy among workers who indicate that when they die their children will carry on "the struggle." The second half of the paper is a discussion of working conditions in China today in terms of the standards which Michael Argyle sets up in his book, "The Social Philosophy of Work": (1) varied and meaningful work, (2) worker involvement in control of working conditions, (3) work appropriate to worker interests and abilities, (4) sufficient job security, pay, and status, (5) extrinsic motivation through integration of worker and organization goals, and (6) small worker groups with cohesiveness from group goals. The author comments on the effectiveness of Mao's programs and concludes that the average worker in China finds dignity and purpose to his labor because he knows it contributes to the good of the state. (JT)