China's trade unions boost rights and skills for new employment forms

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has made significant progress in protecting the rights of people in new forms of employment over the past three years, with more workers, such as delivery personnel and ride-hailing drivers, joining local trade unions and accessing rights protection services and skills training opportunities.

In 2023, the federation launched a three-year program focusing on rights protection and skills training for people in new forms of employment. About 10.74 million workers have joined trade unions nationwide in the past three years, according to a release by the federation on Thursday.

The federation has also collaborated with other central departments, such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, to help regulate employers and platforms' operations regarding algorithms and labor contracts.

Since 2023, the federation and its partner central departments have facilitated nearly 3,000 local platforms and companies to engage in collective bargaining with workers in new forms of employment. About 3,576 collective bargaining agreements have been reached, covering sectors such as parcel delivery, food delivery, logistics, and ride-hailing services across 13,200 platforms and employers.

The federation and trade unions at all levels have continued to optimize services for workers in new forms of employment over the past three years by establishing rest or service stations for these workers, providing support, and distributing summer cooling supplies.

Thanks to improved social status and increasing recognition of people in new forms of employment, about 75 workers have been honored with the National May 1 Labor Medals, the nation's highest honor for workers, over the past three years.