Fury in China as deliveryman kneels before guard

A recent incident in China has sparked significant outrage among delivery riders after a video surfaced showing a delivery worker kneeling before a security guard. The rider, dressed in a bright yellow uniform, was stopped by the guard while trying to leave a building in Hangzhou. The guard accused the rider of damaging railings while attempting to make a hurried delivery. Fearing that he would be late for his next deliveries, the rider knelt down and pleaded with the guard to let him go. This incident quickly gained attention online, leading to protests by many delivery riders who demanded better treatment and protections for workers in their industry. In China, there are approximately 12 million delivery riders, and the pandemic has significantly increased the demand for their services. However, the working conditions in this sector are often harsh, with tight deadlines and low wages. Many riders earn less than a dollar for each delivery, and they face severe penalties for delays or negative customer feedback. The protest in Hangzhou attracted a large crowd of angry delivery riders, prompting the police to send numerous officers to manage the situation, including members of the special weapons and tactics team. The riders chanted for the guard to apologize and even sang China's national anthem in a show of unity. In response to the public outcry, the Hangzhou police urged everyone to remain calm and to seek understanding among one another. The delivery platform, Meituan, which employed the rider in question, stated that it would take full responsibility for investigating the incident and ensuring that its delivery riders are treated fairly. They also mentioned that they had paid for the repairs to the damaged railings. Social media platforms, particularly Weibo, saw a surge in discussions related to the incident, with hashtags related to the event garnering hundreds of millions of views. Some users criticized the security guards for their 'bullying tactics,' while others acknowledged that the rider had made a mistake. One user pointed out that both the guard and the rider were low-wage workers, questioning why the situation escalated to such a level. They emphasized the challenges faced by all workers, especially on a hot day, and called for empathy. Others highlighted the poor working conditions that lead delivery riders to break traffic rules frequently. They argued that the pressure from the platforms they work for forces riders to take risks to complete their deliveries on time. This situation has drawn comparisons to the conditions found in sweatshops. Over the years, China has introduced various guidelines aimed at protecting the rights of gig workers, but many issues still persist. There have been previous incidents of conflict between delivery riders and security guards, including a tragic case earlier this year where a delivery rider was fatally stabbed by a security guard for entering a building without authorization. Research conducted by the China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based NGO, indicates that gig workers have organized at least 400 protests in the past five years to demand improvements in their working conditions.