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China’s pilot program providing occupational injury coverage for gig economy workers will be expanded this year to include additional ride-hailing and delivery companies, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Starting July 1, nine ride-hailing platforms will join the program, including T3 Mobility, Huaxiaozhu, Sunlight Mobility, Ruiqi Mobility, SAIC Mobility, Jishi Yongche, Fengyun Trip, Shouqi Yueche, and Meituan Taxi, announced Wang Li, the deputy director of the ministry’s Work Injury Insurance Department, during a press briefing.
Five instant delivery companies will also be incorporated, such as Freshippo—a platform supported by Alibaba—and Little Elephant Supermarket, backed by food delivery giant Meituan.
The lack of social protection for flexible workers, also known as gig workers, has become a concern worldwide. These jobs involve taking orders through online platforms and offering services like delivery, transportation, and cleaning.
With the rapid growth of the online platform economy, the number of gig workers in China has surged to 84 million, representing 21 percent of the total employed population, according to recent statistics.
The country launched its pilot occupational injury coverage program for new employment formats in 2022, gradually expanding its reach. Major platforms such as Meituan, Taobao Flash Shopping (formerly Ele.me), and Didi Chuxing have already been included.
Currently, the program covers 17 provinces and 11 platform companies, providing social security protections for over 27 million workers, Wang noted. This year, the initiative will extend to all 31 provincial regions across mainland China.
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