The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) convened its 26th briefing session on issues of major concern on July 15 under the theme of protecting the rights and interests of couriers and food delivery riders.

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) convened its 26th briefing session on issues of major concern. [Photo/cppcc.gov.cn]

Wang Yongqing, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the meeting.

Amid the rise of China's platform economy, a key area of common concern relates to the employment interests of workers and service providers operating in this digital-based new sector.

At the meeting, Nie Shengkui, head of the labor relations division of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said the ministry takes a two-pronged approach that supports the growth of the platform economy and regulates the new form of work. The ministry will continue to guide local authorities to introduce specific measures and strengthen cross-departmental collaboration in order to propel enterprises to fulfill their responsibility for labor protection, he said.

The main challenges include the complicated labor relationship in the platform economy, unclear responsibilities of platform-owned enterprises, demanding performance requirements faced by employees and unreasonable incentives offered to them, according to Pang Jin, head of the division for online transaction regulation of the State Administration for Market Regulation. To help address the key problems, the inter-ministerial joint conference system for online market regulation is expected to play a more important role, he said. 

Recognizing the ideas and suggestions of CPPCC members, Chen Kai, deputy head of the State Post Bureau, said efforts will be made to ensure reasonable remuneration and improve social security and recognition for couriers and to urge enterprises to shoulder their responsibilities and improve supervision and services in that sector. 

CPPCC members also discussed such topics as the impact of technology on social interactions and oversight of the process of digital transformation in business and society.