As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, the Chinese government has summoned Meituan, Alibaba Group Holding, Didi Chuxing, SF Express and other logistics firms to ensure the welfare of the tens of millions of gig workers who keep the country running during the rush.
The “employment administrative guidance” session, held recently by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, in coordination with six other government agencies, called on 16 major Chinese platform and logistics operators to “continuously improve labour management and effectively safeguard the rights and interests of” the gig workers, according to a ministry statement on Monday.
The companies included Alibaba’s instant delivery unit Taobao Shangou and grocery chain Freshippo, Geely-backed ride-hailing app CaoCao and courier firm YTO Express. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Separately, the ride-hailing arm of Amap, Alibaba’s mapping and navigation service, was recently summoned by an interministerial office to discuss “mismanagement of third-party ride-hailing partners, undue suppression of rates and inadequate emergency response measures”, according to a Monday statement by the Ministry of Transport.
The meeting also highlighted drivers’ rights, as the regulator, comprising at least 11 authorities that oversee the mobility industry, urged Amap to “strengthen care and support for drivers during the holiday period, and persistently improve working conditions and the employment environment”.
Amap pledged to “strictly meet the requirements of the meeting” and “conduct comprehensive rectification”.
The companies have taken actions to improve benefits. Hours before the announcement, SF Express said it would set aside 200mil yuan (US$29mil) to increase the income of all delivery personnel, with average earnings rising by around 500 yuan during the holiday. On the same day, Meituan said it prepared gifts, each worth 5,000 yuan, for more than 300 riders who were honoured for “acts of bravery” and “good deeds” in 2025.
Last week, Didi announced driver subsidies totalling 1.1bil yuan for the Lunar New Year holiday. Alibaba said in January that delivery riders would have at least 50% of their social security covered, while it planned to host holiday celebrations across 59 cities.
The number of gig workers in China, including delivery riders, couriers and live-streamers, has surpassed 200 million, and the rights of these workers are seen as essential to social stability.
The ruling Communist Party’s proposals for the 15th five-year plan, released in October, included a pledge to “strengthen the protection of workers’ rights and interests to foster a fair and orderly employment environment”.
Authorities have addressed the issue several times in the past few years. In December, for example, the State Taxation Administration warned internet platforms not to shift tax burdens onto gig workers. – South China Morning Post
