BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has adopted a slew of measures to strengthen the protection of rights and interests of new employment groups as they have become an increasingly vital force in the country's job market, an expert said at the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.
New forms of employment refer to jobs emerging with the rise of internet platforms, such as food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers, online marketers, livestreamers and online domestic workers, said Huang Kun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security.
Chinese authorities attach great significance to protecting the rights and interests of these workers and have made marked headway in this regard, according to Huang.
As the new job groups rely on internet platforms for their work, authorities have stepped up efforts to regulate algorithm rules of platform operators that may infringe on workers' lawful rights, according to Huang.
Special campaigns have been launched to tackle these issues. Major platform companies are being pushed to thoroughly check and fix problems, improve their labor rules, and make their algorithms fairer.
In April, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council made public a guideline on enhancing services for new employment groups. The document calls on internet platforms to regulate algorithms, improve transparency, and protect workers' rights to be informed about, participate in and choose algorithm-related rules.
It also requires platforms to hear views from trade unions and worker representatives when adjusting rules on order allocation, pricing and delivery-time estimates.
In terms of optimizing insurance services, China has expanded a pilot occupational injury insurance program for nationwide new employment groups starting July 1 this year. Under this program, more workers will receive occupational injury protection, Huang said.
Launched in July 2022, the program covered major platform companies in delivery, ride-hailing and intra-city freight, ensuring that insurance premiums cover per order.
As China is mulling a comprehensive regulation document on protecting the rights and interests of workers in new forms of employment, Huang called for establishing a reporting system for platform firms on their employment practices, strengthening cross-regional and cross-industry supervision, and supporting trade unions in serving these workers.
Oversight and regulation should be further strengthened to safeguard the workers' basic rights, including the rights to fair pay, rest, information and participation, Huang said, also calling for strengthening vocational and skills training programs for these workers and further improving their working and living conditions by beefing up public services. ■
