Our 10 most recent articles.
In aftermath of price wars in express delivery industry, pay rates for couriers still paltry [1]
While there has been a decline in delivery workers’ collective actions this year, some of China’s couriers report earning less than 1 yuan per delivery
11 November 2022
The Platform Economy [2]
In China, the scale of the platform economy, the conditions giving rise to the development of the sector, and the special regulatory environment all have unique features that affect workers. This explainer examines these angles primarily through the lens of two platform industries: the food delivery industry and the ride-hailing industry.
09 November 2022
CLB Report: Waiting for Weiquan: Worker rights protection at the All-China Federation of Trade Unions [3]
CLB investigates the role and effectiveness of rights defence (维权 weiquan) departments of China’s official trade union
08 August 2022
March 2022 labour news roundup: China’s workers in the Covid-19 wave [4]
In this edition: Workers in the pandemic, tech layoffs, parcel delivery rate cuts, food delivery workers' rewards and punishments, age limits in construction industry, overtime culture, vocational student intern deaths, and a rise in teacher qualification applications
06 April 2022
Labour policy suggestions put forward at annual legislative meetings in Beijing [5]
Discussions at these meetings act as a barometer on labour policies for the coming year
22 March 2022
Increase in strikes in logistics and service sectors in 2021 not expected to let up [6]
CLB collected over one thousand incidents in 2021 in our Strike Map, revealing industry trends and labour relations challenges
15 February 2022
Wage arrears threaten the livelihoods of China’s workers [7]
This year, strikes by couriers on China’s 11 November online shopping day reached a record of 136, compared to just 31 in 2020. During the pandemic, delivery companies have resorted to undercutting their competition with lower prices, leading to workers being paid less than 1 yuan per delivery in some areas. With price wars likely to continue, robust safeguards need to be in place and adequately enforced to ensure that couriers do not keep losing out.
09 December 2021
On Singles Day, price wars mean some couriers earn less than 1 yuan per delivery [8]
Pandemic price wars among express delivery companies mean workers are losing out
13 November 2021
High-level guidance on platform employment lacks teeth [9]
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, workers in China have flooded into the gig economy. Express delivery companies have started price wars to gain more market share, resulting in companies offsetting lower consumer prices by cutting commissions for delivery workers.
23 September 2021
Workers’ rights further eroded by new legislation in Shenzhen [10]
The Shenzhen government is in the process of amending its Employee Wage Payment Regulations for the first time since they were introduced 17 years ago.
01 June 2021