中国的快递外卖劳动力已增长至估计2000万名骑手，在经济放缓的情况下，他们为了生计面临着每天长达14小时的折磨日程。由于竞争激烈，一些骑手的单笔订单收入已从7元人民币（1美元）降至仅4元，在扣除伙食和住宿费用后几乎所剩无几。

尽管扮演着至关重要的角色，送货骑手仍面临着危险的环境和微薄的保障，调查显示大约三分之一的人在工作中受伤，而只有五分之一的人拥有工伤保险。平台利用算法逼迫更快的送货时间，并通过将他们雇佣为第三方承包商来逃避养老金和医疗福利。

尽管政府在2021年出台了保护性指导方针，并在2026年4月更新了零工规则，但执法不力和缺乏城市户籍等系统性障碍仍使骑手处于弱势地位。由于被剥夺了建立独立工会的权利，这些农民工骑手仍然是一个几乎没有其他生存选择的脆弱底层阶级。

China’s delivery workforce has grown to an estimated 20 million drivers, who face grueling schedules of up to 14 hours a day to earn a living in a slowing economy. Due to intense competition, per-order rates for some drivers have dropped from seven yuan ($1) to just four yuan, leaving little after food and housing expenses.

Despite their vital role, delivery drivers endure hazardous conditions and minimal protections, with surveys showing about a third have been injured on the job while only a fifth hold workplace injury insurance. Platforms exploit algorithms to push faster delivery times and bypass pension and medical benefits by hiring them as third-party contractors.

Although the government introduced protective guidelines in 2021 and updated gig-worker rules in April 2026, weak enforcement and systemic barriers like lack of urban residency continue to leave drivers vulnerable. Denied the right to form independent unions, these migrant workers remain a precarious underclass with few alternatives for survival.

Source: China’s delivery drivers are its most obvious underclass

Subtitle: New rules aim to help but the economy will keep them dow

Dateline: June 4th 2026