Thomas Li   

With the slowdown of China's economic growth, the unemployment rate has gradually increased in recent years. The "gig economy," meaning employees juggle several part-time jobs at once, has become popular. Jobs assigned through online platforms and algorithms, such as food delivery and ride-hailing, mean more flexible hours and options for employees than traditional zero-hour jobs.However, the existing labor laws do not cover these employees in the “gig economy", which means that they face risks in salary, benefits and other aspects.

My friends and I interviewed few people working in the "gig economy", and tried to understand what is their biggest concern. We also studied the local laws on employment and labor, to see what policymakers should do to solve this dilemma. This article was awarded the "Best in Business Writing" in the 2022 China Daily Campus Newspaper Award.