China’s gig workers becoming new normal, but ‘inevitable trend’ comes with a burden

China has around 200 million gig workers who make a living from various temporary jobs, but they lack the security of traditional employment. — SCMP

Over the past five years, Shao Zhen has mostly been a gig worker, making a living from various temporary jobs including as a vlogger sharing his home decoration experience and a loudspeaker manufacturer and seller.

Before that, the 43-year-old from eastern China’s Zhejiang province had taken up several full-time contracts, including working in a bank and in a computer store, but quit after being “fed up with all the boredom and low pay”.