Published by ChinaMNC · Yangdong
What Foreign Founders Should Know About Women’s Rights in New Employment Forms: Insights from Yangjiang
A recent roundtable in Yangjiang, Guangdong, brought together platform companies and female frontline workers to discuss protections for women in new employment forms. Foreign founders operating in China can learn how local authorities and unions engage with platforms on labor practices, and what support mechanisms exist for female workers.
Yangjiang Roundtable Highlights Women’s Rights in New Employment Forms
Foreign founders building businesses in China should note that local governments and union organizations are increasingly focusing on the rights and well-being of women in “new employment forms” — a category that includes gig and platform-based work. A recent roundtable in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, offers a window into how these discussions are structured and what they mean for companies that rely on platform workers.
According to the Yangjiang government website, the city’s Women’s Federation, the Guangdong Women’s Rights Service Station (Yangjiang Station), the Municipal Trade Union, and the Municipal Jingshi Social Work Center jointly held a roundtable on the protection of women’s rights in new employment forms. More than 20 participants attended, including representatives from platform companies in food delivery, ride-hailing, express logistics, and e-commerce new farmers, as well as frontline female workers.
What Was Discussed
The roundtable created a face-to-face platform for companies, workers, and mass organizations to communicate. Platform company representatives described their practices in employment management, order allocation, salary calculation, and holiday care. They also analyzed problems such as insufficient convenience supplies for women at stations and a lack of childcare facilities, and they identified directions for improvement.
Frontline female representatives spoke about issues including dispatch mechanisms, night shift safety, and care during menstruation and pregnancy/nursing periods, raising practical difficulties and suggestions.
One female rider, Xiao Yuan, who has been delivering orders for seven years, said her biggest headache is the inconvenience of finding toilets on the road, but she appreciates the flexible working hours that make it easier to care for her children. Over the years, she has felt more warmth, with warm stations, care packages, and hardship subsidies available. She described the Women’s Federation and the Trade Union as being like her family.
Xiao Heng, a staff member from the Didi platform, said that her daily work mainly provides logistical support for drivers. The platform’s “Her Plan” is open to female drivers and includes real-time positioning, follow-up by safety officers, and subsidies for serious illness, with a focus on ensuring the safety of female drivers when taking orders and traveling.
Broader Efforts by the Women’s Federation
In recent years, the Yangjiang Women’s Federation has been promoting organizational development and special services in emerging sectors such as express delivery and food delivery, online domestic services, live-streaming e-commerce, and transportation. It also works with judicial and human resources departments to provide legal consultations and legal aid; partners with the Municipal Trade Union to distribute heatstroke prevention and warmth supplies and health kits; and organizes lectures on the implementation measures of the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests, psychological health services, and skills training. These efforts aim to ensure that women in new employment forms have channels to voice their concerns and receive help when facing difficulties.
Implications for Foreign Founders
For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, especially those in platform-based or gig economy businesses, this roundtable signals several practical considerations:
- Engage with local authorities and unions: Chinese government bodies and union organizations actively facilitate dialogue between platforms and workers. Companies may be invited to participate in such meetings or expected to cooperate with local Women’s Federations and Trade Unions on labor rights issues.
- Review employment practices: The discussion covered employment management, order allocation, and salary calculation. Foreign founders should ensure these processes are transparent and fair, and consider how they might affect female workers.
- Address workplace facilities and support: Issues like insufficient convenience supplies for women and lack of childcare were highlighted. Providing adequate facilities and support can improve worker satisfaction and align with local expectations.
- Focus on safety and special needs: Night shift safety and care during menstruation and pregnancy/nursing periods were raised. Platforms like Didi have introduced features such as real-time positioning and safety officers, which can serve as references.
- Utilize available support services: The Women’s Federation offers legal aid, health kits, lectures, and training. Foreign companies can encourage female employees to take advantage of these services or partner with local organizations to provide similar support.
While the source article does not provide specific statistics or guarantees, it illustrates a collaborative approach between government, unions, and platforms to improve conditions for women in new employment forms. Foreign founders should view this as part of the broader labor relations landscape in China and consider how their companies can proactively participate.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.