China is taking steps to increase control over its gig economy workforce, which has become crucial economically and politically sensitive for the ruling Communist Party. Many workers in this sector, such as delivery riders and drivers, face long hours, unstable pay, and lack basic labor protections. The Chinese Communist Party views the gig economy as not just a labor issue but also a potential source of instability.
New guidelines released by the General Office of the CCP and China’s State Council aim to enhance management of what Beijing terms as “new employment groups.” These guidelines include plans to strengthen ideological supervision, expand political guidance, and deepen Party influence over platform-based workers by 2027. The gig workforce in China, which includes food delivery riders, ride-hailing drivers, couriers, e-commerce staff, and livestream hosts, is seen as vital to the digital economy but challenging for authorities to monitor and control.
China’s gig workforce comprises around 84 million people, accounting for about one-fifth of the country’s employed population, according to an analysis in the CCP’s official journal. When considering broader categories like freelancers and part-time workers, estimates suggest the number exceeds 200 million. The shift towards the gig economy in China has been driven by factors like slowing industrial growth and tighter private sector conditions, leading to economic dependency and social concerns due to low wages and poor working conditions.
The newly-released directive emphasizes adherence to Xi Jinping’s political doctrine and urges gig workers to align with the Party. It calls for increased ideological and political guidance, along with a governance system to integrate gig workers into existing Party structures. This move reflects a broader trend in Chinese governance where political supervision intersects with economic management and social control.
