China Expands Gig Worker Algorithm Oversight to 25 Platforms as 84 Million Join New Employment
Updated
Updated · asianews.network · Sep 14
China Expands Gig Worker Algorithm Oversight to 25 Platforms as 84 Million Join New Employment
1 articles · Updated · asianews.network · Sep 14
Summary
China said it has widened governance of platform algorithms to 25 companies this year from eight last year, targeting problems such as unreasonable order assignments and opaque pricing for gig workers.
84 million people now work in new forms of employment including delivery, courier and ride-hailing jobs, part of roughly 200 million Chinese in flexible work and equal to 21% of the total workforce.
Platforms have been urged to standardize employment practices and protect fair pay, rest time, workplace safety and social security, while some localities now pause delivery timers at red lights to reduce pressure on riders.
Local governments are also adding parking, charging, meals, rest areas and even rider apartments, while officials say gig workers can help social governance by reporting risks, gathering public opinion and assisting in emergencies.
As China forces tech giants to rewrite algorithms, will these new gig worker protections accidentally destroy the nation's biggest employment safety net?
With 84 million gig workers becoming an urban governance force, is this a breakthrough in community safety or an expansion of grassroots surveillance?