| By law, China’s 200 million gig workers are eligible to receive a “heat wave allowance” from their employers for working in extreme heat conditions. But as cities swelters under excessive temperatures, many delivery couriers say they haven’t received a penny. Across the globe, dangerously high temperatures are becoming more common due to climate change, and putting more people at risk. Among the most vulnerable are those who work outdoors, despite some regulation efforts from governments. In China, some of its biggest food delivery sites say they do support drivers during extreme heat. But, overall, there remains a lack of labor protections for the country’s booming gig workforce — even as research shows that meal orders increase and workers work longer hours during heat waves. Government employees, meanwhile, stay cool with bonuses and seaside perks, as Karoline Kan reports. Today on Bloomberg: China's Blistering Heat Leaves Workers Exposed as Gig Economy Booms — Linda Poon |
