Gig workers in China play a crucial role in the country's rapidly growing food delivery market, which has seen a significant increase over the past three years to reach 1.5 trillion yuan, or $208 billion, as reported by Nikkei Asia. Despite the market's success, workers in this industry face challenges akin to those in traditional factory settings, including low pay, long hours, and physically demanding work.
Statistics from the Economic Research Institute reveal that the average wage for a factory worker in China stands at 28 yuan per hour, or $3.94. For instance, a 19-year-old Meituan delivery driver in Guangzhou shared that he earned a mere 7 yuan per delivery, translating to less than a dollar. This driver had to complete around 30 deliveries daily, resulting in earnings lower than those of factory workers in the region.
One courier in Shanghai expressed anxiety due to the high frequency of motorbike accidents witnessed while on duty. This individual often worked 12-hour shifts, fulfilling 50 to 60 orders daily to make ends meet. In contrast, delivery drivers in the US earn an average of $17.10 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Chinese government has recognized the challenges faced by gig workers and has intervened by introducing new regulations that gig-work employers like Meituan and Didi Chuxing must follow. These guidelines aim to ensure that ride-share and delivery drivers have adequate rest time and earn wages compliant with minimum wage laws.
Authorities from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have identified significant issues within the industry, such as excessive working hours, violations of minimum wage standards, and a lack of mechanisms for reporting rights violations. To address these concerns, gig-work platforms have attempted to increase delivery speed by narrowing delivery timeframes, leading to a surge in traffic accidents involving couriers.
In response, some workers have organized through WeChat groups to collectively reject orders that involve challenging delivery locations, such as large buildings with elevators or gated communities. This collective action aims to highlight the impracticality of meeting platform expectations and has resulted in orders being returned with higher pay offers.
