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The Old Conflict in the New Economy? Courier Resistance on Outsourcing Platforms in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2023

Bo Zhao  and
Siqi Luo Open the ORCID record for Siqi Luo [Opens in a new window]
Bo Zhao
Affiliation:
School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Siqi Luo*
Affiliation:
Center for Chinese Public Administration Research/School of Government, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
*
Corresponding author: Siqi Luo; Email: luosq5@mail.sysu.edu.cn
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Abstract

In contrast to Western platforms, which are dominated by crowdsourced labour, China's food-delivery platforms rely heavily on outsourced couriers to provide high-quality services. The conflicts emerging from outsourced labour relations have been inadequately examined. Based on extensive fieldwork in south China, this study reveals an intriguing fact: the outsourcing model frequently triggers yet largely conceals couriers’ strikes. This study uses the work regime approach and labour bargaining power theory to analyse the complex dynamics created by the platforms. By scrutinizing state institutions, relationships among various organizations and workplace interactions, this study finds that the platform firms have dominant power but that inherent tensions exist between outsourcing platform firms, outsourced agencies, human supervisors and workers, forming a regime that this study calls “contentious despotism.” Importantly, labour conflict is alive and potentially enduring in China's gigantic platform economy.

摘要

摘要

不同于以众包劳动为主的许多西方平台，中国外卖平台高度依赖外包骑手来提供高质量服务。然而平台外包劳动关系带来的冲突尚未被充分地考察。基于在华南地区的深入调研，本文揭示出一个有趣的事实——外包模式经常引发却又在很大程度上隐藏了骑手的集体行动。对此，本文采用工作政体和劳工谈判力理论来探讨平台上这种复杂动态。通过分析国家制度、多主体间关系以及工作场所层面的互动，本文指出平台企业在外包模式中拥有主导权，但其与承包商、督导和劳动者之间存在着内在张力，从而形成的是一种“富有争议的专制政体”。关键在于，劳资冲突依然存在于中国庞大的平台经济中，并且可能持续下去。

Keywords

collective resistancelabour–capital conflictcontentious despotismfood-delivery platformthird-party agency集体行动劳资冲突富有争议的专制政体外卖平台第三方外包商
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 258 , June 2024 , pp. 495 - 512
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of SOAS University of London

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