China gig workers gain nationwide injury insurance cover

The programme was first introduced on 1 July 2022 across 17 provincial level regions.

China launched a nationwide expansion of its pilot occupational injury insurance programme, extending social protection to millions of gig workers across the country.

First introduced on 1 July 2022, the initiative covers order-taking workers across 17 provincial-level regions in three specific industries: ride-hailing, instant delivery, and intracity freight, as reported the China Daily.

By the end of June 2026, the programme had enrolled 29.902 million individuals. 

The nationwide rollout expands the number of participating major platform companies from 11 to 14, with regional authorities instructed to integrate smaller local platforms within the three targeted sectors throughout the year.

The programme utilises a flexible enrollment structure specifically designed for gig workers who often work for multiple platforms simultaneously or change jobs frequently. 

Rather than requiring fixed monthly contributions, insurance protection is activated daily, premiums are calculated per individual order, and payments are settled on a monthly basis. 

This system ensures that the insurance coverage stays with the worker rather than being tied to a specific platform.

The initiative aims to provide financial security for China’s expanding gig economy, which official figures estimate at more than 84 million workers in new forms of employment.