China mandates minimum wage and algorithm transparency for 200 million gig workers

China's highest governing bodies have issued comprehensive labour rules for the country's more than 200 million gig workers, marking the first time the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and State Council have formalised platform worker protections. The regulations, issued on Sunday, require platforms to pay at least the local minimum wage and enforce maximum working hours through the apps themselves. When workers reach daily limits, the system must stop dispatching orders and send rest reminders. Platforms must also seek worker input on algorithm changes affecting pay or task assignment, and must negotiate with unions or worker representatives if requested. The rules cover major operators including Meituan, Didi Chuxing, Alibaba's Ele.me, JD.com, and SF Express. The government set a 2027 deadline for standardising labour practices across the platform economy. Several companies have already responded. SF Express allocated 200 million yuan to increase delivery worker income. Didi announced 1.1 billion yuan in driver subsidies. Alibaba pledged to cover at least 50 percent of social security for delivery riders. JD.com committed to full social benefits for all full-time riders. The regulations arrive as China pivots toward consumption-driven growth under its 15th Five-Year Plan. With youth unemployment at 16.5 percent in December 2025 and more than 12 million university graduates expected to enter the job market in 2026, Beijing is treating gig worker income as a macroeconomic priority. Workers in flexible employment currently represent roughly 27 percent of China's total workforce.