Pilot insurance plan for gig workers expanded nationwide

A pilot occupational injury insurance program for workers in new forms of employment was expanded nationwide on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, extending social protection to more gig workers across the country.

First launched on July 1, 2022, the program has covered all order-taking workers from 11 major platform companies across 17 provincial-level regions in three sectors — ride-hailing, instant delivery and intracity freight. As of the end of June this year, the program had covered 29.902 million workers, the ministry said.

The program, tailored to accommodate gig workers who frequently switch between platforms or work on multiple platforms simultaneously, adopts a flexible enrollment model. Instead of fixed monthly contributions, coverage is activated on a daily basis, premiums are calculated per order, payments are settled monthly, and protection follows the worker rather than being tied to a single platform, according to the ministry.

The nationwide expansion now includes 14 platform companies. The ministry said provincial authorities will continue to bring smaller platform companies in the three pilot sectors registered in their jurisdictions into the program throughout the year.

According to official data, China has more than 84 million workers in new forms of employment.

The program has already delivered tangible benefits for front-line workers.

Shan Tong, a Meituan delivery rider in Beijing's Haidian district, fell and was injured while delivering food toward the end of 2025. With assistance from the company's service personnel, he applied through Beijing's fast-track claims process for minor injuries. His 302 yuan ($44) in medical expenses were fully reimbursed, and he also received a one-time occupational injury and disability benefit of more than 30,000 yuan.

Shan, who has worked as a delivery rider for eight years, said the application process was straightforward and the compensation was paid promptly.

Another rider, surnamed Hou, received 3,799.51 yuan in compensation at the end of 2024 after being struck by a motor vehicle while making a delivery in October of the same year. After the Haidian district human resources and social security authorities recognized the incident as an occupational injury, he received the benefit payment.

E-commerce giant Meituan, one of the earliest participants in the pilot program, has fully covered insurance contributions for its riders since July 2022. Between July 2022 and June this year, the company paid more than 3 billion yuan in contributions, covering over 10 million riders, according to the company.

Tang Daisheng, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University's School of Economics and Management, said the nationwide expansion carries profound significance.

The program has strengthened legal protection for workers in new forms of employment while fostering a fair, transparent and supportive employment environment, Tang said.

"It demonstrates the country's deep care for gig workers by building a protective shield against occupational injuries and giving flexible workers a greater sense of security and fulfillment," he said.

Tang added that the innovative enrollment model is well suited to the flexible nature of new forms of employment and will help promote the healthy and regulated development of the industry.

The pilot program provides greater certainty for gig workers, supports the sound development of the platform economy and plays an important role in stabilizing employment, he said.

"It guides platform companies toward healthy growth and ensures the new economy stays on track within the legal framework, benefiting both workers and the sector," he added.