Spark Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers want the industry regulated
News: Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulation
Although the gig economy is on the rise, better protection for workers is needed
Delivery workers have urged for more employment protection in a series of strikes
Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* is careful while delivering orders on his motorcycle. The 40-year-old knows that if he has a work-related accident, he will receive few benefits and minimal compensation.
'While consistent food delivery work can lead to a very good income, the major downside is that it leaves couriers like me without essential basic and labour protections,' he said. Lam delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Keeta.
'It would be nice if the government regulated the industry, granting us employee status and entitling us to annual leave, sick leave and a pension.'
Lam earns an average of HK$45,000 to HK$50,000 monthly, working 10 hours a day, six days a week. He said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago. Still, the money was too good to pass up.
Lam is among the thousands of Hongkongers making a living in the so-called gig economy. He is also not alone in calling for the industry to be regulated.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers in May that the government would introduce proposals to enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year. Authorities would consider reinforcing protections for them through legislative means.
Sun's remarks came shortly after several strikes by Keeta workers. Their demands included increasing their pay per order, better protections and higher safeguards against illegal workers.
In Hong Kong, those working for food delivery and ride-hailing platforms are among the most visible members of the gig economy. The city had as many as 64,000 online delivery couriers and 50,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in 2023, according to calculations by the Legislative Council Secretariat's research office.
A survey commissioned by the Labour Department and conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 found that nearly 13,000 people had worked for food and goods delivery digital platforms in the previous year.
The city does not have legislation specifically covering digital platform workers. They are usually classified as self-employed. This means they are normally not entitled to benefits such as paid annual leave and sick leave as stipulated under the Employment Ordinance, payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, or minimum wage protection.
Staff writers
* Name changed at interviewee's request
Question prompts
1. According to the news, which of the following statements are true?
(1) John Lam supports government regulation of the food delivery industry to improve workers' rights and protections.
(2) Gig economy workers in Hong Kong are automatically entitled to benefits such as sick leave and paid annual leave.
(3) The Hong Kong government is considering legislation to improve conditions for platform workers.
(4) There were more than 64,000 app-based ride-hailing and taxi drivers in Hong Kong as of 2023.
A. (1), (2) only
B. (2), (4) only
C. (1), (3) only
D. (3), (4) only
2. List TWO demands that striking delivery workers had in regard to employment benefits.
3. Why might Hong Kong workers want the government to regulate the gig economy, and what issues could it address? Explain using the news and your own knowledge.
Illustration
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Question prompts
1. List TWO changes that gig workers hope the government will implement to improve their working conditions.
2. What do the roadblocks labelled 'Labour Protections' and 'Pay rates' in the illustration represent about the gig economy?
Glossary
gig economy: a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber and Foodpanda
minimal compensation: Without legislation specifically covering digital platform workers, they are not normally entitled to payouts for work-related injuries under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance
minimum wage: the lowest hourly or daily pay that employers are legally required to offer workers. The statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong is HK$42.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025.
Sample answers
News
1. C
2. Striking delivery workers have demanded better protections, including employee status, annual leave, sick leave, and a pension. (accept any two answers)
3. Food delivery workers like Lam want the government to regulate the gig economy so they can gain access to basic employment protections such as annual leave, sick leave, and pension benefits. Currently, most gig workers are classified as self-employed, which means they are not entitled to protections under laws like the Employment Ordinance or the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. This leaves them vulnerable, especially in the case of work-related accidents, despite often working long hours and earning relatively high incomes.
Illustration
1. Delivery workers hope the government will require companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms on pay and injury compensation and create a legal framework that deters illegal workers and provides basic labour protections, such as a minimum wage and holiday pay.
2. The roadblocks symbolise the major challenges and uncertainties faced by gig workers, such as food delivery riders. 'Labour Protections' refers to the lack of basic rights such as sick leave, injury compensation, and paid holidays, while 'Pay rates' represents declining earnings and the unstable income structure after events like Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong. These obstacles make it difficult for gig workers to move forward securely in their careers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
15 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
HKMA's strict stablecoin regime to shape Hong Kong's crypto future
Hong Kong's stablecoins ordinance, which took effect on Friday, puts cryptocurrency's most-traded cash substitute under the same regulatory framework as banks, triggering a rush for a limited number of licences from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Advertisement Some market observers were caught by surprise after learning that the first batch of stablecoin licences was only expected to be issued early next year , as the regulator adopted a prudent approach to ensure the sustainable development of its digital asset initiative. The HKMA said on Tuesday that only 'a handful' of licences would be issued initially, to calm a hyped-up market. Since the beginning of this year the share prices of some companies have soared simply after suggesting plans to develop stablecoin operations, as the prospects of crypto and digital asset adoption become more mainstream. While the key benefits of stablecoins – digital tokens backed by fiat currencies or other reserve assets – such as cost savings, efficiency and transparency were established, the number of successful candidates could be limited due to the HKMA's stringent criteria aimed at making the city a leading digital asset hub, according to analysts. Many local, mainland Chinese, regional and global players have expressed interest in applying for stablecoin licences. Photo: Shutterstock 'The regime will filter out those unable to align with the strict regulations, produce viable use cases and demonstrate financial stability,' said Cora Ang, head of legal and compliance for Asia-Pacific at Amina Group, a Swiss financial services firm focused on virtual assets.
South China Morning Post
15 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Why do mainland China's wealthiest families pick Hong Kong courts to mediate their feuds?
An increasing number of wealthy mainland families have been opting to come to Hong Kong for mediation services to solve disputes instead of going to court, according to an expert. Advertisement 'There is an increased demand for family mediation services in Hong Kong in recent years, particularly from [mainland] Chinese families,' said Ann Cooley, founder of Hong Kong-based Cooley Family Office, which has offered mediation services to help family offices handle their disputes for three decades. 'Hong Kong is going to benefit from such a trend because the city is an international mediation centre with many experts in this area,' Cooley said in an interview on Thursday. 'Being part of China and the Greater Bay Area means that many wealthy mainland families can take the high-speed train to travel to Hong Kong within an hour to meet their bankers to manage their wealth, as well as to find experts to resolve their family disputes,' she said. Ann Cooley, founder of Pacific Hawk Asset Management Limited, Cooley Family Office, on July 24, 2025. Photo: Edmond So The hidden disputes of wealthy mainland families have come under the microscope recently with the legal battle surrounding the family of Zong Qinghou, the late founder of China's biggest beverage company, Hangzhou Wahaha Group, barely 12 months after his death.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
China EV war: Tesla, Nio and Li Auto target mainland families with premium SUVs
Electric-vehicle (EV) makers from Tesla to Nio are shifting their focus from price cuts to developing spacious family friendly, long-range vehicles for the mainland Chinese market. The premium SUV segment has emerged as the new battlefront, as carmakers heed Beijing's call to end a brutal price war and chase affluent consumers to improve their bottom line. Tesla, which plans to launch a six-seat Model Y on the mainland this autumn, has been overtaken by two major local rivals – Li Auto and Nio – with new SUV models in the world's largest EV market. On Thursday, Shanghai-based Nio announced it would start deliveries of its six-seat Onvo L90 SUV from August 1, a model expected to draw thousands of orders from mainland customers. Li Auto's Li i8 six-seat SUV starts from 321,800 yuan. Photo: Handout It became the second carmaker in three days to launch a pre-emptive strike against Tesla in building spacious intelligent vehicles that are priced around 300,000 yuan (US$41,800).
