China has formalised its first comprehensive policy framework governing Gig workers in the platform economy — from food delivery riders to online livestreamers, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.
The guidance, issued jointly by the CPC Central Committee General Office and the State Council and reported by the official Xinhua News Agency on Sunday, calls for standardised contracts, fair pay and stronger labour protections for what Beijing calls "new employment groups."
It sets a target of broadly standardising labour practices across the sector by 2027.
The policy arrives at a significant moment. China's gig economy has, reportedly, expanded rapidly over the past decade, with tens of millions of workers employed through platforms in delivery, ride-hailing, e-commerce and live commerce.
Yet until now, their legal status has remained ambiguous — neither fully recognised as employees nor adequately protected as independent contractors — leaving them exposed to arbitrary pay structures, punishing algorithmic targets and minimal social security coverage, reports suggest.
Under the new framework, Bloomberg reported, major technology companies including Meituan, Alibaba Group Holding, JD.com and logistics operators are required to align pay with labour intensity and curb excessive commission structures.
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Platforms must improve working conditions and consult worker representatives when making decisions that affect their livelihoods.
The guidance also takes direct aim at the algorithms that govern how gig workers are rated, dispatched and paid. Platforms will be required to submit their algorithms for regulatory review, increase transparency over how these systems operate and tighten scrutiny over core business models.
The policy additionally encourages the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to optimize — rather than exploit — these algorithmic systems.
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The move is, reportedly, part of a broader effort by Beijing to reassert oversight over its technology sector, which faced a sweeping regulatory crackdown beginning in 2021.
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