Social security covers more gig workers

China will accelerate the release of regulations to protect the rights of flexible workers and people in new forms of employment — including food delivery workers and ride-hailing drivers — as it seeks to promote high-quality and fuller employment and maintain social stability.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, submitted a work report on safeguarding the rights of flexible workers and people in new forms of employment to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Monday for review.

According to the report, China currently has more than 200 million flexible workers. Governments at all levels have improved services and made notable progress in protecting their rights by issuing guidelines, improving working standards and introducing exploratory policies on social insurance.

Local human resources authorities have conducted regular inspections of companies to assess workers' pay, working hours and the nature of employment relationships, the report said. Authorities have also tightened oversight of platform algorithms and urged employers to standardize payments, lower commission rates and set limits on maximum working hours.

Wu Xiuzhang, vice-minister of human resources and social security, told the meeting on Monday that the ministry has developed new mechanisms for workers in new forms of employment to access work-related injury insurance, with premiums calculated based on orders the employee undertakes.

The new work-related injury insurance program for such workers began in 2022. As of October 2025, 11 pilot companies and 17 pilot provinces had joined the program, benefiting 23.25 million workers, Wu said.

He added that the government has eased restrictions for flexible workers and people in new forms of employment to participate in the national pension and medical insurance systems. By the end of 2024,70.57 million flexible workers were covered by basic pension insurance, while 66.16 million were covered by basic medical insurance.

Wu said the ministry has also worked to improve employment services for flexible workers and people in new forms of employment, supporting entrepreneurship through low-interest loans, subsidies and tax reductions, while organizing skills training programs to help workers upgrade their skills.

The ministry has strengthened efforts to address wage arrears involving flexible workers and those in new forms of employment and has cooperated with judicial authorities to publish typical labor dispute cases, he said.

Despite strides made in strengthening protections, Wu said workers still face challenges that include unstable income and insufficient safeguards, underscoring the need to further expand social insurance coverage and legal support.

According to the report, the ministry will continue to tighten supervision over flexible workers' rights to pay, rest and workplace safety, and explore new approaches to enable people in new forms of employment to participate in collective bargaining.

Expanding social insurance coverage for flexible workers and people in new forms of employment remains a key priority, with plans to increase flexibility and inclusiveness in contribution mechanisms, the report said.

The ministry will also improve employment guidance for companies and encourage workers to protect their rights through rational, lawful and orderly means. It will step up efforts to issue regulations protecting the labor rights of people in new forms of employment and introduce rules to standardize employment practices by companies and platforms.