Delivery rider’s death shines light on fierce competition in China’s gig industry

BEIJING (CAIXIN GLOBAL) - The sudden death of a takeout deliveryman in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou has thrown into stark relief the strenuous nature of this gig industry, where drivers are working ever-longer hours to chase shrinking fees as competition grows amid China’s bleak job market.

A middle-aged deliveryman was found unconscious on his electric scooter outside a local residential complex early Friday morning, Jimu News reported, quoting an eyewitness. He had been lying on the scooter for several hours before fellow delivery riders realized something was wrong, the witness said.