Stronger social security? Proposed law sparks a pushback by gig workers
With China’s flexible workforce estimated at nearly 300 million, Beijing pledges to strengthen their safety, wages and basic social security
Guangzhou delivery vehicle driver Zhang Liang watches on warily as more graduates, former factory workers and other jobseekers join him plying their trade on the roads.
“The streets are flooded with delivery drivers and payouts per order have plummeted,” Zhang said. “To make what we earned last year, we have to stay on the road longer and ride faster, leading to a sharp rise in traffic accidents among us.”
Official estimates put the nation’s flexible workforce at nearly 300 million, most of whom remain outside traditional employer-funded social security coverage. But as delivery riders like Zhang grow in numbers, Beijing has vowed to strengthen protection for gig workers by bringing them into the national social security framework.
China’s State Administration of Market Regulation released the draft revision of an e-commerce law on July 4 for public consultation until August 4. The draft raises the accountability level of e-commerce platforms for the safety, wages and basic social security of outsourced labour – including drivers.
But the move has also sparked pushback from the very people it aims to protect.
“What we want is higher per-order pay and more reasonable delivery times, so that we can work shorter hours and stay safer while on the job.”
“What we want is higher per-order pay and more reasonable delivery times, so that we can work shorter hours and stay safer while on the job,” Zhang said. The 34-year-old former manufacturing and sales worker began his job in 2020 and now works about 12 hours daily to make roughly 300 yuan (US$44) per day.