Police in Hangzhou, eastern China, called for more humane treatment of delivery workers after a security guard at an upscale residential complex forced a delivery worker to kneel, sparking angry protests from dozens of his colleagues.
Video clips of the delivery woman kneeling by the roadside after the security guard snatched her scooter keys because she had climbed over a low fence to get to a customer’s home were published on X by citizen journalist Mr Li is Not Your Teacher on Monday.
It also released images of police holding riot shields surrounding dozens of delivery workers who staged a protest outside the property management offices, singing the Chinese national anthem.
The protest took place after a guard at Hangzhou’s Xixi Century Center claimed that biker Yang Xiaobing, who works for delivery app Meituan, damaged a fence after crossing it to gain access to the building.
12 million drivers
China’s 12 million delivery workers were recently identified by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as a workforce to be wooed with better treatment, including clearer access arrangements and rest stations for a sector of the gig economy that has become an emblem of current economic woes.
The guard allegedly snatched the key from Yang’s scooter and refused to return it, threatening her with a fine of 200 yuan ($27). Yang was shown kneeling next to a scooter on the side of the road.
Later in the day, dozens of comrades from Meituan and competitor Ele.me gathered in front of the property management company that manages the Xixi Century Center, to protest the treatment of Yang, prompting local authorities to send dozens of police officers to the scene.
In one clip, police line up and shout: “Get back!” Back off! against delivery men dressed in blue and yellow and wearing protective helmets, who tried to push back. “We have surveillance cameras that capture everything,” someone warns.
Suddenly, the riders gather to sing the Chinese national anthem, “The March of the Volunteers.”
“The Chinese nation has reached the hour of its greatest danger,” they sing. “Everyone is obliged to let out one last roar.”
In another shot, a delivery driver is taken away by the police with other riders chasing him, throwing water bottles at the police vehicle.
Repeated calls to the local police department went unanswered during business hours Monday.
Treat them humanely
A police officer identified as Wang Jinlei from the local police station warned private security guards that they had no right to issue fines, and called on them to treat delivery workers “more humanely.”
“Today, due to a security issue in property management, a conflict occurred with a delivery man in Jiangcun District, which led to a large-scale gathering of delivery men and created instability,” Wang wrote in a social media post circulated online following Tuesday’s event.
“In the future, avoid violent and argumentative behavior when communicating with our delivery brothers and treat them rationally and peacefully,” the message said.
“We also need to be more human and people-centered, and fully understand the difficulties and challenges faced by delivery staff,” he said. “Property management security officers are strictly prohibited from using inappropriate means such as fines to deal with delivery people.”
A delivery driver wearing a face mask walks off a pedestrian bridge in Beijing, August 7, 2022. (Andy Wong/AP)
Comments on social media targeted the security guard for his apparent lack of solidarity with the working class.
“We all come from the same background, so why are we so eager to fight against each other?” one comment said, while another wanted to know: “Why do the lower classes humiliate each other?”
Another comment read: “There is so much discrimination in Chinese society, based on profession, origin, appearance and region. So many delivery people have experienced such setbacks and cannot tolerate such humiliation.
A Hangzhou resident who only gave the nickname Zhao for fear of reprisals said delivery workers are currently working in temperatures of up to 42°C (107.6°F) in the city.
“These delivery workers are really going through difficult times and are forced to do this work due to their life circumstances,” Zhao said. “But the security guards are also part of the lower class; they share the same roots, which makes this conflict even more sad and pitiful.”
Exhausting work
He said many people are forced to do back-breaking work, which comes with little protection of workers’ rights and earns a pittance after deducting vehicle rentals and other expenses.
“This is clearly a very sensitive topic for the authorities, which is why they are trying to nip any problems in the bud by intervening and cracking down on it,” Zhao said.
US human rights lawyer Wu Shaoping said too much power had been handed to local officials and security personnel by President Xi Jinping’s administration.
“Property management in residential communities, including security personnel, exercise a certain level of public power…which they have disproportionately amplified,” Wu said.
He said property management companies are part of the local law enforcement “grid” system.
“This is why the authorities will side with property management companies in such disputes: they are also arrogant because they have the support of the Chinese Communist Party regime,” Wu said.
Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.