Overloaded: Trigger for driver failures in the largest delivery market

Overloaded: Trigger for driver failures in the largest delivery market

In the past few months, numerous explosive clashes of delivery drivers have been documented in China, which are widespread on social media. These conflicts, which are characterized by anger and despair, are skillfully thrown into the challenges with which these workers are faced.

The challenges of delivery workers in China

The food deliveries industry in China has achieved a volume of $ 200 billion and doubled in the three years of the Covid 19 lockdowns because it once offered a safe income for many casual workers. But the situation has deteriorated considerably. China's economy is burdened by a persistent real estate crisis and a decline in consumption expenditure, which significantly affects the living conditions of the delivery workers.

economic framework and their effects

China's economic performance grew by 4.6 % in the third quarter compared to the previous year, which was above expectations, but was impaired by weak consumption expenditure. Jenny Chan, a social scientist at Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, explained that workers work for a long time and are under pressure because the delivery platforms have to keep their costs low.

The weak economy leads to a demand for cheaper meals, which harms the wages of the workers because many work on a commission basis. This forces them to work even longer to maintain their merits.

The reality of the work in the delivery service

About 12 million drivers form the backbone of China's food supply network, which has become more important since 2009 by founding the Ele.me app, which is owned by the technology giant Alibaba. During the strict lockdowns, the delivery workers played a crucial role in keeping the communities alive. Today they have become an indispensable part of the country's eating culture.

The industry reached a volume of $ 214 billion in 2023, which is 2.3 times as much as in 2020. According to estimates, the market is expected to grow to $ 280 billion by 2030. Despite these numbers, the workers are immense pressure to keep strict deadlines, which often leads to dangerous driving habits.

income declines and precarious working conditions

Despite the growth, the salaries of delivery workers have significantly reduced. According to the China New Employment Research Center, the average income in 2018 was still over $ 1,000 a month, while in 2023 it fell to less than $ 950. This is because many workers now work through longer layers and still have difficulty in making a living.

The "downgraded consumption" in China contributes to this problem. Due to the sluggish economy, it is often not possible to spend a lot for food deliveries, which can further reduce the income of the workers.

market dominance and their consequences for the workers

The food supplies that used to pay high wages to win workers have now obtained a monopoly -like control over the market. This change has led to a loss of occupational safety and a decline in flexibility for the employees. Many restaurants do without delivery fees in order to offer comparable prices such as with self -made, which also makes the situation of the delivery workers more difficult.

The consequences of these changes are serious. Workers who are employed as self -employed have little security and are motivated to ignore dangerous situations in order to make as many deliveries as possible. Tragically there are always serious accidents.

conclusion: an industry in change

Although many delivery drivers address the disadvantages of the industry, they find the flexibility of the work advantageous. You can decide for yourself whether you want to work more to earn more or whether you want to step shorter. Despite the challenges, the delivery service remains an option for many, even if the working conditions in the industry are increasingly precarious.