Meituan Paid $11.3 Billion to Delivery Riders in 2023, Averaging $0.52 Per Order
Meituan CEO Wang Xing revealed in an internal memo that the company paid approximately RMB 80 billion ($11.3 billion) to around 7.45 million delivery riders in 2023. With 21.9 billion on-demand orders processed during the year, this translates to an average earnings of roughly RMB 3.65 ($0.52) per delivery for workers. The disclosure highlights the scale of Meituan's gig workforce and its financial distribution, amid ongoing societal debates regarding labor protections in China's gig economy. Wang noted that about 4.5 million riders are covered by national occupational injury insurance, emphasizing efforts to improve worker welfare. This announcement follows recent public discourse triggered by the death of a delivery rider, which raised questions about workplace safety and insurance coverage for flexible workers. Meituan categorizes its riders into full-time employees and flexible workers, though specific breakdowns were not provided. Additionally, Wang highlighted the international expansion of Meituan’s KeeTa service, which leads in Hong Kong and has recently launched in Saudi Arabia, with future plans targeting Gulf countries, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The company also reported strong financial performance, with Q2 revenue rising 21% year-on-year.
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Meituan Paid $11.3 Billion to Delivery Riders in 2023, Averaging $0.52 Per Order
Meituan CEO Wang Xing revealed in an internal memo that the company paid approximately RMB 80 billion ($11.3 billion) to around 7.45 million delivery riders in 2023. With 21.9 billion on-demand orders processed during the year, this translates to an average earnings of roughly RMB 3.65 ($0.52) per delivery for workers. The disclosure highlights the scale of Meituan's gig workforce and its financial distribution, amid ongoing societal debates regarding labor protections in China's gig economy. Wang noted that about 4.5 million riders are covered by national occupational injury insurance, emphasizing efforts to improve worker welfare. This announcement follows recent public discourse triggered by the death of a delivery rider, which raised questions about workplace safety and insurance coverage for flexible workers. Meituan categorizes its riders into full-time employees and flexible workers, though specific breakdowns were not provided. Additionally, Wang highlighted the international expansion of Meituan’s KeeTa service, which leads in Hong Kong and has recently launched in Saudi Arabia, with future plans targeting Gulf countries, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The company also reported strong financial performance, with Q2 revenue rising 21% year-on-year.
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