Latest news with #JohnLam
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers call for more industry regulation
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. 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. Deep Dive: Hong Kong authorities aim to boost 'silver economy' by encouraging elderly spending 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 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 food delivery workers want the government to regulate the gig economy, and what issues could regulation address? Explain using News and your own knowledge. Photo Hong Kong had more than 64,000 people working as online food delivery couriers as of 2023. Photo: Jelly Tse Question prompts 1. According to the information in News, why do delivery workers need to be careful while they are on the job? 2. Using News and your own knowledge, list TWO reasons why people might choose to work in the gig economy. Illustration Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen Question prompts 1. List TWO changes that delivery workers are hoping the government will implement to improve their working conditions. 2. What do the roadblocks labelled 'Labour Protections' and 'Pay rates' in the illustration represent in the context of the gig economy? Issue: Hong Kong must balance protection with overregulation, experts say City has been urged to look at Britain's three-tier employment model as a reference Some called for a legal definition of gig workers In April, delivery rider Ahmad, 32, injured his back after falling off his motorbike while delivering for Keeta. 'When I was injured and couldn't work for 10 days, I had zero income. In my line of work, more effort means more pay, and sometimes rushing to get ahead can lead to accidents,' said Ahmad, who asked to be identified by his first name only. The Hong Kong resident hopes government regulation will improve labour rights for delivery riders – such as requiring companies to offer full-time contracts with clear terms for salary and workplace injury compensation. Ahmad joined the strikes against Keeta after his pay per order dropped from an average of HK$50 to HK$28 following Deliveroo's exit from Hong Kong in April. Other riders believe a legal framework could also help deter illegal workers from joining these platforms. Heiwai Tang, associate dean and professor of economics at the University of Hong Kong's business school, said the ideal regulatory regime for Hong Kong should include sufficient protection against workplace injuries, as well as safeguards against platforms using overly aggressive algorithms that put too much pressure on workers, such as penalties for running late. There should also be a legal definition for gig workers and a body set up where all stakeholders in the industry could communicate with each other. But Tang said it was important to maintain the flexibility of gig work, as overregulation could drive people away from these jobs. 'The appearance of these platforms shows there is a clear demand for them; some people really need this flexibility,' he said. Deep Dive: Hong Kong workers say they are losing jobs under labour import scheme 'A gig worker should not be seen as a worker who has a nine-to-five job that has the protections of minimum wage, maximum working hours or contributions to their MPF. If you do too much, everyone will lose.' Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing said gig workers should not be classified as full-time employees, as this would result in higher costs for platform operators while workers would lose some freedom. Lam pointed to Britain's three-tier employment status model as an example, with categories of employee, worker and self-employed. Employees have full employment rights, while the self-employed receive the least protection. The middle tier, workers, have limited rights, such as minimum wage and holiday pay. He said the Hong Kong government should consider defining a third type of employment mode for gig workers, which would entitle them to some protections. The Labour Department said it had received 83 employee compensation claims involving digital platform workers between January 2021 and May 2025. As of June 13, 30 of these cases were concluded with compensation paid, and 48 were withdrawn or not pursued by the employees. Staff writers Question prompts 1. Which of the following statements is true? (1) Ahmad joined the strike against Keeta partly because his pay per order decreased significantly after Deliveroo exited Hong Kong. (2) Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing supports creating a third employment category for gig workers that offers some protections without removing flexibility. (3) Heiwai Tang believes the government should give gig workers the same protections as full-time employees, including minimum wage and MPF contributions. (4) The Labour Department received over 90 employee compensation claims from digital platform workers between 2021 and 2024. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO measures that have been proposed to improve the working conditions of gig workers in Hong Kong. 3. How do experts and lawmakers differ in their views on balancing worker protections and job flexibility in the gig economy? Explain using Issue and your own knowledge. Glossary labour protections: legal and human rights relating to labour relations between workers and employers. In Hong Kong, this could include benefits such as sick pay and compensation for work-related injuries. gig economy: a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber and Foodpanda 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. aggressive algorithms: automated systems used by platforms to monitor and manage gig workers, often penalising them for minor delays or pushing them to complete more orders in a short amount of time 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. Photo 1. Delivery workers need to take extreme care because they lack basic labour protections and are usually not covered by employee benefits. As mentioned in the text, if Lam has a work-related accident, he will receive little compensation and no paid sick leave, since gig workers are typically classified as self-employed. From a practical standpoint, they also face physical risks, such as road accidents, due to long working hours, fatigue, or adverse weather conditions, yet they have no safety net to rely on if they are injured. 2. People might choose gig jobs because of the possibility of high pay, the flexibility of the working hours, the ease of signing up for and leaving such positions, or because it is difficult to find a full-time white-collar job. (accept all reasonable answers) 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. Issue 1. A 2. Introduce a legal definition for gig workers and create a platform for industry stakeholders to communicate / Establish a third employment category that offers some protections, such as minimum wage and holiday pay, without full employee status. 3. Professor Heiwai Tang and lawmakers such as Lam Chun-sing both acknowledge the importance of protecting gig workers, but they emphasise different aspects of the balance. Tang stressed the need for safeguards, such as protection against injury and pressure from aggressive algorithms, while warning that overregulation could reduce the flexibility that attracts people to gig work in the first place. He believes gig workers shouldn't be treated like traditional nine-to-five employees. Similarly, Lam supports the idea of preserving flexibility and warns against fully classifying gig workers as full-time employees, which could increase costs for platforms and limit workers' freedom. Instead, he proposed adopting a third employment category, like the UK model, to offer partial protections without removing flexibility.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Spark Deep Dive: Hong Kong's gig workers want the industry regulated
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. 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.
The Star
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulated. Can city deliver?
Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* cannot afford to make a single mistake while working. The 40-year-old takes extreme care while delivering orders on his motorcycle, knowing that if he has a work-related accident he will receive few employment benefits and minimal compensation. 'I understand that being highly responsive to my phone can lead to more orders. But for safety reasons, I only handle my phone when my vehicle has completely stopped,' said Lam, who delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Meituan's Keeta. 'The risk of an accident simply isn't worth gaining an order slightly faster. I prioritise safe driving and rarely weave through traffic, even on a motorcycle, because road conditions are unpredictable.' Lam, who put his earnings at HK$45,000 (US$5,730) to HK$50,000 a month on average from a 10-hour shift six days a week, said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago, but the money was too good to pass up. '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. '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 – who is among the thousands of Hongkongers making a living in the so-called gig economy, a labour market commonly characterised by temporary or freelance work, usually through digital platforms such as Uber, Foodpanda and Keeta – is not alone in calling for the industry to be regulated. But what form should the regulations take and how can workers be best protected? Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers in May that the government would introduce proposals to further enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year, adding that authorities would consider reinforcing protections for them through legislative means. Sun's remarks came on the heels of several strikes by Keeta workers, whose demands included increasing their pay per order, better protection and higher safeguards against illegal workers. Some flexibility required? While workers who spoke to the Post urged authorities to regulate the gig economy, experts cautioned against overregulating that mode of employment and potentially stifling the inherent flexibility of such work. 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, who are usually classified as self-employed. 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. Delivery rider Ahmad, 32, knows all about the perils of the gig economy after falling off his motorbike and injuring his back while dropping off an order for Keeta in early April. 'When I was injured and couldn't work for 10 days, I had zero income. In my line of work, more effort means more pay, and sometimes rushing to get ahead can lead to accidents. It's not just about covering living costs. If something serious happened to me, my family wouldn't know how to cope,' said Ahmad, who asked to be identified by his first name only. The Hong Kong resident, who came from Indonesia eight years ago, said he earned around HK$30,000 a month but had 'barely anything left' after paying HK$8,000 in rent for his subdivided unit in Mong Kok, tutoring fees for his two children and household expenses. Keeta provides its couriers with personal accident insurance, but Ahmad said the process had been frustrating as he was constantly passed between the insurer and the platform. Such insurance protection is not mandated for gig workers under the law. 'The staff of the company's online chat room directed me to the insurance provider, which only communicates via WhatsApp. After you submitted all your injury documents and receipts, they went silent, leaving me in limbo with no idea when my claim would be processed,' he said. 'When you try to follow up with your company, they just send you back to the insurer.' He said he hoped the government's regulatory efforts would help to enhance delivery riders' labour rights, including making companies sign up their gig workers on full-time contracts that would include clear clauses on salary levels and workplace injury compensation. Ahmad, who joined the strikes against Keeta, said he did so as the payment per order he received fell from an average of HK$50 to HK$28 after rival platform Deliveroo pulled out of Hong Kong in April. Other riders believed that a proper legal framework could also help deter illegal workers from working for delivery platforms and competing with them for orders. 'If platforms formalise an employer-employee relationship with their workers through contracts, it will effectively close the grey area that stops individuals not legally allowed to work by using accounts opened by others,' said Mark Chan*, a delivery rider who now mainly works for Keeta. Driving down pay Labour-sector lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung said a union had estimated that 30 per cent of couriers were illegal workers, predominantly non-refoulement claimants, who hold a recognisance form, commonly known as a 'going-out pass', to stay in the city. They operated by renting accounts opened by Hong Kong residents, he said. Hong Kong grants non-refoulement status to individuals seeking protection from being returned to a country where they face a substantial risk of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or persecution. As of 2024, there were 15,800 claimants in the city. Chan said legitimate account owners first scanned their faces on the food delivery platform's mobile app before renting the phone to the illegal workers to start their shifts. 'They tend to be more willing to take orders with a lower rate, which drives down prices for legitimate delivery riders who usually take higher-paying orders,' he said. 'They are working illegally, yet they are taking food off our tables.' Chan said Keeta's system could be fooled by simply scanning a picture, while rival Foodpanda used 3D facial scans three times a day to ensure the identity of the riders. He also hoped that the government's regulatory efforts would ensure that gig workers received annual leave and paid sick leave regardless of whether they were on full-time or freelance contracts, which would guarantee them an income if they could not work. 'Contracts should also offer the flexibility we currently have to choose fewer working hours, allowing us to attend to personal matters or take on other jobs at other times,' he said. Heiwai Tang, associate dean and professor of economics at the University of Hong Kong's business school, said several methods were used elsewhere to regulate the gig economy. In the US, the approach was more decentralised, he said, with each state and city dealing with the issue in its own way. 'One example is New York, where they required platform economy workers, which included those driving for Uber or delivering food for these platforms, to have minimum wage coverage,' he said. 'This has led to the price of service increasing, which was then transferred on to consumers, leading to a drop in the demand for services, where some gig economy workers end up losing their jobs.' He said Singapore had taken a more proactive approach to regulating the gig economy through the Platform Workers Act. The law requires platforms to treat workers similarly to employees, with operators asked to provide work injury compensation and contribute to their pension fund. The law, which came into effect in January, also includes provisions to allow workers and platforms to form their own associations for formal collective representation. 'These measures have led to the costs of the platform companies to have increased,' Tang said. 'In Singapore, some platforms have expressed the opinion that these measures would lead to an increase in costs for consumers, which may then lead to decreased demand for services provided by platform workers.' In mainland China, the leaders of different provinces and cities would simply demand that platforms treat their workers better, and they would respond correspondingly by providing higher pay or better welfare, the academic said. 'Big burden' Looking at Hong Kong, Tang said the ideal regulatory regime should include sufficient protection against workplace injuries, as well as safeguards against platforms using overly aggressive algorithms that put too much pressure on workers, such as penalties for running a few minutes late. There should also be a legal definition for gig workers and a body set up where all stakeholders in the industry could communicate with each other. But Tang said it was important to maintain the flexibility of gig work as overregulation could turn people off from taking up these types of jobs. 'The appearance of these platforms shows there is a clear demand for them; some people really need this flexibility,' he said. 'A gig worker should not be seen as a worker who has a nine-to-five job that has the protections of minimum wage, maximum working hours or contributions to their MPF. If you do too much, everyone will lose.' Unionist lawmaker Lam Chun-sing is among those who believe in the importance of flexibility, saying gig workers should not be classified as full-time employees, as this would result in higher costs for platform operators while workers would lose some freedom. Lam pointed to Britain's three-tier employment status model as an example, with categories of employee, worker and self-employed. Employees have full employment rights, while the self-employed receive the least protection. The middle tier, workers, have limited rights such as the minimum wage and holiday pay. He said the Hong Kong government should consider defining a third type of employment mode for gig workers, which would entitle them to some of the protections that were offered to full-time employees. 'I think this would be an easier solution, as these platform companies would not have to treat these workers as employees, which is a very big burden,' he said. 'The other thing is that people also want to have more freedom, where they would be fine with not having leave benefits like employees, as long as they have workplace injury compensation, retirement benefits and the freedom to decide when they want to work.' 'They deserve better' The Hong Kong Institute of Human Resources Management said it supported the government's initiative to strengthen legislative protection for gig workers, adding that the move recognised their vital and long-standing role in the economy. It said the government should hold consultations with employers and employees before finalising any new classifications of workers and could make reference to Singapore's definition of platform worker, which balanced flexibility with protection. The institute said that basic rights such as insurance coverage and pension contributions should form the foundation of social and financial security for gig workers in Hong Kong. 'Gig workers have been around for many years, such as private tutors and freelance workers in different industries. They contribute to the economy and deserve better protection like others,' institute president Lawrence Hung Yu-yun said. 'With careful policy design, it is possible to balance worker protections with the flexibility that characterises gig work, helping Hong Kong remain competitive and attractive for talent and innovation.' After meeting with the city's two food delivery platforms on Friday, Undersecretary for Labour and Welfare Ho Kai-ming said in a social media post that the government was highly concerned about protection for platform workers. 'The government encourages platform companies to strengthen communication with platform workers, establish fair and reasonable working arrangements and service fee calculation mechanisms,' he said. 'Platform companies are also urged to respond promptly and proactively to platform workers' feedback and resolve differences through dialogue.' Ho said the government had also asked the companies to take 'serious action' against illegal workers, including implementing more stringent identity checks. He noted that a survey by the authorities found local platform workers were concerned most about compensation in the event of work accidents. 'The government will continue to focus discussions on this issue in collaboration with platform companies and other stakeholders through the liaison group with an aim to introduce a proposal for further enhancing the rights and benefits of platform workers within this year,' he said. In a reply to the Post, the Labour Department said it had received 83 employee compensation claims involving digital platform workers between January 2021 and last month. Among the cases, 30 were concluded with compensation paid and 48 were withdrawn or not pursued by the employees for various reasons. The department was following up on the remaining five cases. Foodpanda Hong Kong said it would continue to be open to listening to feedback from different stakeholders, as well as maintain close communication to exchange ideas on the development of the industry. Keeta said it was committed to engaging with policymakers and stakeholders while operating strictly in accordance with Hong Kong's laws and regulations. The priorities for delivery rider Mark Chan regarding any future regulation of the gig economy are simple: job security and personal safety. 'My wish is simple: to work daily and ensure my wife doesn't have to worry about me. Ultimately, I want to be able to grow and be present with my kids for years to come,' he said. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's gig economy workers want industry regulated. Can city deliver?
Hong Kong food delivery rider John Lam* cannot afford to make a single mistake while working. Advertisement The 40-year-old takes extreme care while delivering orders on his motorcycle, knowing that if he has a work-related accident he will receive few employment benefits and minimal compensation. 'I understand that being highly responsive to my phone can lead to more orders. But for safety reasons, I only handle my phone when my vehicle has completely stopped,' said Lam, who delivers food for the city's two online platforms, Foodpanda and Meituan's Keeta. 'The risk of an accident simply isn't worth gaining an order slightly faster. I prioritise safe driving and rarely weave through traffic, even on a motorcycle, because road conditions are unpredictable.' The government is set to introduce proposals to further enhance platform workers' rights and benefits within the year. Photo: Jelly Tse Lam, who put his earnings at HK$45,000 (US$5,730) to HK$50,000 a month on average from a 10-hour shift six days a week, said he was fully aware of the risks when he started working with online food delivery platforms five years ago, but the money was too good to pass up. Advertisement '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. '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.'
Bloomberg
19-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UBS Sees China Property Turnaround Coming Sooner Than Expected
UBS Group AG is predicting China's property sector to recover sooner than previously anticipated, led by a revival in top-tier cities. John Lam, head of China and Hong Kong property research at the Swiss bank, now expects home prices to 'turn stable' at the beginning of next year, compared with an earlier estimation for the middle of 2026, according to a media briefing Wednesday.
