What economic recovery? China’s delivery drivers just along for the ride as other opportunities remain elusive

Despite China’s economy seeing considerable growth in the third quarter, a large segment of its working class is still feeling effects of the pandemic

A total of 24.7 per cent of industry-leading Meituan’s 2.95 million delivery riders had at least a bachelor’s degree at the end of July, up from 18 per cent a year earlier

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China’s booming delivery sector has helped keep e-commerce humming during the coronavirus pandemic while providing low-skilled jobs for millions of university graduates and laid-off workers from other industries. Illustration: Perry Tse

Published: 12:00pm, 28 Oct 2020Updated: 9:52pm, 28 Oct 2020

When the temperature dropped sharply and heavy smog returned to Beijing on the last night of the recent “golden week” holiday, most downtown restaurants and stores closed early. But Chai Fengning was still riding through the streets on a black electric bike, standing out in his bright yellow uniform and helmet identifying him as an employee of Meituan – the largest on-demand delivery service in China.

The 23-year-old became a full-time food-delivery driver last month after the coronavirus pandemic upended the hospitality industry and cost him his job as a hotel receptionist.

Even though much of the nation was celebrating the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period –a traditional time for family reunions – Chai could not afford to return to his hometown in Gansu province, a northwestern inland region more than 1,200km (745 miles) away from Beijing. Instead, he chose to stay in the capital and keep working.

Chai is among China’s growing army of delivery couriers – known colloquially as “delivery brothers” – frequently seen weaving through the streets on their scooters.

A Meituan delivery man carefully passes food through chained doors during coronavirus-induced lockdowns in Hefei, Anhui province, earlier this year. Photo: Xinhua

Since the initial imposition of coronavirus lockdowns earlier this year, a booming delivery sector has helped keep e-commerce humming along, serving as a crucial resource in keeping the country’s 1.4 billion people fed and supplied with essential goods, as well as a safe haven to absorb laid-off workers from other industries.

But millions of delivery drivers, including Chai, still lack labour and financial protections, underscoring new structural challenges in China’s increasingly service-oriented economy.