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Police order better treatment of delivery riders after one is humiliated

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Police order better treatment of delivery riders after one is humiliated
August 14, 2024
Article Body Text Police in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou have appealed for more humane treatment of delivery workers after a security guard in an upmarket residential complex forced a delivery rider to kneel, sparking angry protests by dozens of her colleagues. Video clips of the delivery rider kneeling by the roadside after the security guard snatched away her scooter keys because she scaled a low fence to get to a customer's home were posted to X by citizen journalist Mr Li is Not Your Teacher on Monday. He also posted footage of police holding riot shields surrounding dozens of delivery riders who staged a protest outside the property management offices, singing the Chinese national anthem. The protest came after a guard at Hangzhou's Xixi Century Center claimed that rider Yang Xiaobing, who works for the delivery app Meituan, had damaged a fence after crossing it to access the building. 12 million drivers China's 12 million delivery riders were recently identified by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as a workforce to be <a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/delivery-drivers-06132024152806.html">wooed with better treatment</a>, including clearer access arrangements and rest stations for a sector of the gig economy that has become an emblem of <a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/jobless-economic-slump-07042024105248.html">current economic woes</a>. The guard reportedly snatched the key out of Yang's scooter and refused to return them, threatening her with a 200 yuan (US$27) fine. Yang was shown kneeling next to a scooter by the roadside. <figure> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Later that day, dozens of fellow riders from Meituan and competitor Ele.me gathered outside the property management company that runs Xixi Century Center, protesting at the treatment of Yang, prompting local authorities to dispatch dozens of police to the scene. <figure><img alt="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024.9.jpg" class="image-richtext image-inline" src="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-delivery-drivers-08142024122031.html/eng_chn_delivery-riders_08132024-9.jpg/@@images/21af99da-a3d7-48a0-8421-2d76ec5d5215.jpeg" title="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024.9.jpg"/> <figcaption>Dozens of delivery drivers protest after a private security guard forced a fellow delivery driver to kneel and threatening her with a fine in an Aug. 12, 2024 post on X. (@whyyoutouzhele via X) </figcaption> </figure> In one clip, police line up and shout, "Back off! Back off!" at blue and yellow-clad delivery riders in crash helmets, who tried to push back. "We have surveillance cameras capturing everything," someone warns. In one shot, the riders band together to sing China's national anthem, "The March of the Volunteers." "The Chinese nation has reached its hour of greatest danger," they sing. "Everyone is forced to make one last roar." In another shot, a delivery rider is led away by police with other riders in hot pursuit, throwing water bottles at the police vehicle. Repeated calls to the local police department rang unanswered during office hours on Monday. Treat them humanely An officer identified as Wang Jinlei from the local police station warned private security guards that they have no right to issue fines, and called on them to treat delivery riders "more humanely." "Today, due to a property management security issue, a conflict occurred with a delivery rider in Jiangcun district, which led to a large-scale gathering of riders and created instability," Wang wrote in a social media message circulated online in the aftermath of the event on Tuesday. "In future, avoid fierce and argumentative behavior when communicating with our delivery rider brothers, and treat them in a rational and peaceful manner," the message said. "We must also be more humane and person-centered, and fully understand the difficulties and challenges faced by delivery personnel," it said. "It is strictly forbidden for property management security guards to use improper means such as fines when managing delivery riders." <figure> <figcaption> <img alt="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024_002.JPG" class="image-richtext image-inline" src="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/eng_chn_delivery-riders_08132024_002.jpg/@@images/0aadb515-c820-4910-a82b-27a4d37ce23b.jpeg" title="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024_002.JPG"/>A delivery driver wearing a face mask rides down from a pedestrian overhead bridge in Beijing, Aug. 7, 2022. (Andy Wong/AP)</figcaption> </figure> Social media comments took aim at the security guard for their apparent lack of working class solidarity. "We are all from the same background, so why are we so eager to fight each other?" one comment said, while another wanted to know: "Why are the lower classes humiliating each other?" Another comment read: "There is so much discrimination in Chinese society, based on occupation, origin, appearance and region. So many delivery riders have experienced such setbacks, and can't tolerate such humiliation." A Hangzhou resident who gave only the nickname Zhao for fear of reprisals said delivery riders are currently working in temperatures of up to 42C (107.6F) in the city. "These delivery riders really have a hard time, and are forced to do this work by their life circumstances," Zhao said. "But security guards are also part of the lower class; they share the same roots, making this conflict even sadder and more pitiful." Grueling work He said many people are forced into doing the grueling work, which comes with scant protection for workers' rights and earns a pittance after deductions for vehicle hire and other expenses. "This is clearly very sensitive for the authorities, so they are trying to nip any trouble in the bud by stepping in and suppressing it," Zhao said. <figure><img alt="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024.10.jpg" class="image-richtext image-inline" src="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-delivery-drivers-08142024122031.html/eng_chn_delivery-riders_08132024-10.jpg/@@images/cf9f272b-ef47-49e8-8891-dbd618599f48.jpeg" title="ENG_CHN_DELIVERY RIDERS_08132024.10.jpg"/> <figcaption>Dozens of delivery drivers protest after a private security guard forced a fellow delivery driver to kneel and threatening her with a fine in an Aug. 12, 2024 post on X. (@whyyoutouzhele via X) </figcaption> </figure> U.S.-based rights lawyer Wu Shaoping said too much power has been handed to local officials and security personnel by the administration of President Xi Jinping. "Property management in residential communities, including security personnel, carries a certain level of public power ... which they have magnified out of all proportion," Wu said. He said property management companies form part of the "grid" system of local law enforcement. "That's why the authorities will be on the side of the property management companies in such disputes -- they're this arrogant because they have the support of the Chinese Communist Party regime," Wu said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Content Type Text
Language English
NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
Rights @whyyoutouzhele via X
Network VOA
Embargo Date August 14, 2024 12:40 EDT
Byline By Kitty Wang for RFA Mandarin
Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English