China Pledges Stronger Labor Protections for Gig and Delivery Workers

At its inaugural State Council Information Office briefing, China's Central Social Work Department pledged to strengthen labor protections for the country's expanding new employment groups, including couriers, food delivery riders, and ride-hailing drivers. Vice Minister Zhao Shitang emphasized that authorities will guide and supervise digital platforms to standardize hiring practices, safeguard fair wages, guarantee rest and leave, and expand social insurance coverage. The ministry also highlighted grassroots initiatives, such as designated rest hubs and dedicated housing, while mobilizing gig workers into neighborhood governance.

Delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers, and logistics workers form the backbone of China's urban services and digital commerce, yet they have long operated with precarious safety nets and intense algorithmic pressure. The public intervention by the Central Social Work Department signals that gig-worker welfare has risen from routine labor dispute management to a top-tier priority in national social governance, with direct state pressure bearing down on platform operators.

China's Central Social Work Department has pledged to safeguard the lawful rights of workers in new forms of employment, including delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers, and long-haul truckers, according to a State Council Information Office press conference reported by the Daily Economic News. Speaking at a briefing focused on developing socialist democracy ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Vice Minister and department spokesperson Zhao Shitang stated that new employment groups represent an essential part of the workforce and an indispensable force in economic and social development. The event marked the Central Social Work Department's first appearance at a State Council Information Office briefing since its formation. Zhao outlined a multi-pronged approach aimed at fostering harmonious labor relations and improving social conditions for flexible workers. A core priority is addressing workers' demands for occupational safety and social security. According to Zhao, authorities will actively guide and urge platform enterprises to standardize their employment practices in accordance with the law, ensuring legal protections regarding labor remuneration, rest and leave, workplace safety, and social insurance. The measures build upon a policy document issued in October of the previous year by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, which set out systematic arrangements for managing and serving new employment groups, Zhao noted. Alongside regulatory oversight of platform companies, the department detailed efforts to ease day-to-day operational difficulties for frontline personnel. To address common challenges such as neighborhood entry, parking, and battery charging for couriers, as well as dining and resting needs for drivers, authorities have promoted the construction of "friendly scenarios," encompassing friendly communities, commercial districts, and campuses. Local governments have also established designated rest stops, known as "driver's homes," at highway service plazas and fuel stations to give freight drivers secure rest facilities. In urban centers, municipal programs have introduced specialized "rider apartments" to alleviate housing pressures, alongside practical skills training. Zhao added that authorities will continue encouraging gig workers to participate in grassroots community governance by utilizing their familiarity with local neighborhoods.