New policies to better protect gig workers

A number of policy measures have been rolled out over the past few months to better protect gig workers, who experts described as the backbone of China's labor force and a vital buffer against unemployment amid economic headwinds.

According to official estimates, over 200 million people are currently engaged in flexible work, of whom about 84 million operate in platform-based roles.

In a landmark move that took effect on Wednesday, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security launched a nationwide program extending work-related injury insurance to gig workers employed in the ride-hailing, instant delivery and intracity freight sectors.

The pilot program, initiated in July 2022, enrolled 29.9 million workers from across 11 major platforms and 17 provinces till the end of June. The ministry announced that additional platform-based occupations will be included in the program by 2027.

Work-related injury insurance is a cornerstone of China's social safety net, forming part of the widely recognized "five insurances" that also include pension, medical, unemployment and maternity coverage.

It is the inherent flexibility of gig workers that exposes them to gaps in social protection. Injury, unemployment and pension insurance premiums of traditional employees are covered by their employers. Platform workers, by contrast, often operate across multiple platforms that typically position themselves as mere information intermediaries — a setup that leaves workers in a precarious legal gray area.

The new occupational injury policy marks a significant departure from tradition by removing the prerequisite that workers must have an established employment relationship to qualify for coverage.

Instead, platforms now pay premiums on a per-order or per-day basis, with coverage triggered the moment a worker accepts a gig.

"To deal with flexibility, we need flexibility," said Li Chang'an, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies. "That will go a long way toward safeguarding the legitimate rights of flexible workers."

He said that flexible employment represents a dominant form of emerging work models and serves a distinct function in alleviating joblessness. The combination of minimal entry requirements and strong integration with the digital economy is making this type of work especially appealing, particularly to younger individuals.

Dou Liguo, who manages a delivery outlet in Beijing, has witnessed these changes firsthand. In 2013, his coverage area was four times larger than what it is today, yet he had only 20 couriers on his team. Now, operating in a much smaller territory in Fangshan district, he needs more than 30 couriers to meet the daily demand. "The express delivery industry has indeed taken on many young workers, and almost all new recruits are under 35," he said.

Gao Qijie, 31, who lives in Su­zhou, Jiangsu province, turned to ride-hailing in early 2023 after the supermarket where he worked closed down. "I only have a middle school education. The entry threshold for ride-hailing is lower than other jobs, and the hours are much more flexible," he said.

Gao now earns as much as 400 yuan ($59) per day, and has bought his own car and plans to stay in the business long-term. While he worries about the platforms not sharing pension and medical insurance costs, for him the job is a lifeline against unemployment.

Jiang Ying, a labor law professor at China University of Labor Relations, called flexible employment a "shock absorber" in times of economic turbulence. "Food delivery, ride-hailing and livestreaming can quickly absorb displaced workers, offering transitional income and staving off mass unemployment," she said.

The nation's support for gig workers is part of a broader push to build an "employment-friendly" development model — a concept first introduced in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and reaffirmed in this year's Government Work Report — which places "stable employment" first among four key stability goals, followed by stable businesses, markets and expectations.

In June, the State Council, China's Cabinet, unveiled a plan to put the "employment first" strategy into action over the 2026-30 period. The plan pledges to promote the sound development of flexible work, broaden development channels, strengthen public services and protect workers' rights.

The latest expansion of workplace injury coverage addresses one of the most pressing concerns for gig workers: despite facing high risks linked to algorithmic management, many lack a clear employer and have long remained unprotected.

Efforts stepped up

In recent years, authorities have stepped up efforts to rein in platform algorithms that undermine gig workers' pay, rest, safety and right to information and participation.

Front-line workers said more can be done.

Xiao Hailin, a 33-year-old in Beijing, started delivering part-time for a major platform in May. He works two to three hours most evenings, earning an extra 1,000 yuan a month, and limits himself to two orders per shift for safety. He said platform delivery windows are often too short, encouraging risky riding.

"The time limits platforms impose are simply too tight. Riders end up speeding and running red lights just to avoid penalties, which dramatically increases the risk of traffic accidents," he said.

Guo Yuhe contributed to this story.