A Day in Life of a Chinese Food Delivery Worker

Before becoming a driver, Mrs. Liu, 48, spent a decade, working on factory affairs. In one she glued tiny components to the speakers of smartphones, and in the other she trimmed the edges of the wooden door.

Her family’s radish, living in a small town near Shanghai and was drawn to playing work because the salary looked good. “I will live a life I want with my own efforts,” she writes on her social media profile.

Shortly after she started as a driver, Mrs. Liu reached the biggest salary of her life: 10,583 Renminba, about $ 1,500. That was almost three times more than what she did in factory work. She began to believe that one day she could make enough money to not only support her husband and son, but also helps her parents and brothers and sisters living in a village far away.

Today, however, these goals moved from her.

The economy of her job worsened significantly. Mrs. Liu works for Meituan, who controls 70 percent of the market to deliver food in China. In 2023, the company had two million more drivers than in 2021, its latest data, and in the average they pay their initiators less to order.

Drivers are under strong pressure to perform delivery, they drive red lights if that is what is needed. Late orders can mean penalties and low customers’ grades, which can lead to smaller wages.

In recent months, videos of overcrowded drivers who have been crying for help have appeared on Chinese Internet, and the Government, very unpleasant because of public depiction of dissatisfaction, is working to regulate the industry. According to the test program, the gig workers in certain cities will receive expanded social security coverage. And Meituan tries to require mandatory breaks during long shifts.

But for now, Mrs. Liu’s work life is no less arduous than ever. This is how it looks.

8:59

Orders delivered today: 0
Net income: -0,41 USD

Mrs. Liu is signed on a Meituan app that is automatically drawn -0,41 USD for daily insurance from an accident. Soon her first series of delivery was assigned – she has to pick up and give up three orders.

9:40

Each order comes with its own deadline. Mrs. Liu said that 40 percent of earnings were punished once on one delivery because she was a minute late.

She is at a good beginning today: she is on time for all three orders in the first series, although she has only arrived for the last three minutes. Close the call.

She makes money 0.50 USD for each order.

Business can be physically taxed. This building has an elevator at the beginning of her day, but most are not. Mrs. Liu often has to run the stairs to become a deadline.

The streets also take a toll. She lay at least two scooters and had more traffic accidents to provide delivery. “That brings me to tears to talk about these experiences,” she said.

Mrs. Liu encounters a group of other drivers waiting for tasks, which is a common scene in her city because the number of delivery workers has increased. He remembers when the orders came in non -stop. Now he feels happy not to sit and wait.

10:15

Orders delivered: 3
Net income: $ 1.18

Her next set of commands comes. This is the way five!

The arbitrator of how much work the delivery driver gets is a Meituan algorithm. Mrs. Liu has no idea how it works – but she knows she wants to stay on his good side.

She once injured her leg while she worked, but she didn’t take the time, not wanting to be labeled as inactive. In order to avoid low apps on the application, drivers are in line with additional customer requirements, such as choosing a pack of cigarettes and trash draws.

Today, to successfully deliver this second set of orders, Mrs. Liu earns $ 2,66.

13:31

Orders delivered: 26
Net income: 13.16 USD

After spending her lunch, she decides to rest. He eats a can of porridge she brought with her. He often packs lunch to save money. He devour him in one minute.

The demands of her job mean that she rarely sits for fir with her family, even dinner. On the eve of the last Lunar New Year, when many families gathered to celebrate, Mrs. Liu’s husband, son and mother -in -law had to wait for him to get off work.

14:51

Orders delivered: 31
Net income: $ 16.10

Uh oh. Mrs. Liu notes that her scooter’s battery is agreed. It ends in several orders and moves to a nearby charging station to replace the battery. In order to use billing cells, it pays a monthly subscription that appears $ 1.32 day.

Just a few hours later, the new battery works low! He thinks there is a problem with electrical connection with it, but there are orders for delivery.

With the deadline approaching, she invites the customer to apologize to be able to be late. But she manages to make delivery one minute earlier. Another close call.

17:31

Knowing that the battery will not last for another bunch of delivery, Mrs. Liu goes to repair her bike.

The mechanic replaces the connection and charges it -2.80 USDabout how much she makes for five deliveries. Drivers have to pay to keep their scooters.

17:45

Orders delivered: 42
Net income: 17,53 USD

It’s a rush with dinner, but Mrs. Liu doesn’t get any orders. Between that and a problem with her bike, she decides to call it a day.

After nine hours of delivery and payment of bicycle repair, she earned less than $ 18.

Mrs. Liu recently decided to reduce the time she spent by delivering food. “It’s really hard,” she said in tears. “I’m already 48 years old. I can’t deliver much longer.”

Now he is looking for other ways to live. She paid for an online course to learn how to produce videos with short forms, which are very popular, although she knows it’s a difficult way to make money.

“All I can do is try it out.” Said Mrs. Liu.