Many are calling for better protection for gig workers, while the police have urged the public to be kind.

Chinese authorities have called for gig workers to be treated with kindness after videos of a delivery rider kneeling before a security guard led to protests by dozens of riders.

Guards stopped the rider from leaving a building in Hangzhou on Monday - saying he damaged railings while scaling them during a rushed delivery.

Worried that his subsequent deliveries would be delayed, the rider got on his knees and pleaded to be let go, the city’s police said in a statement.

The incident sparked outrage online, with many urging better protections for workers in the industry.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    5117·
    4 months ago

    This image reminds me of something just a little bit.

    I asked the people on Weibo and they had no idea what I was talking about, but I was looking around and I think it was this. But it’s probably just AI.

    • Gsus4@mander.xyzEnglish
      11·
      4 months ago

      Tankman is the everyman standing up against the overwhelming force of the police state.

      That picture is some helpless dude being disgraced because some karen with guanxi ratted on him. :/

    • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1610·
      4 months ago

      How does this remind you of Tiananmen Square in 1989? Because China?

        • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
          914·
          4 months ago

          So if someone gets pulled over for speeding in China then that’s instant Tienanmen Square in 1989?

            • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
              99·
              4 months ago

              The only thing I’m trying is to understand why you immediately think of Tienanmen Square in 1989 when seeing this story. Other than it taking place in China, I really don’t see a link. There’s no need to get defensive about it, just be honest.

              • stoly@lemmy.worldEnglish
                68·
                4 months ago

                You’re being defensive. You took some rando’s comments personally and sought to correct their thought crime.

                • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  87·
                  4 months ago

                  “Thought crime”? A little dramatic, don’t you think?

            • stoly@lemmy.worldEnglish
              34·
              4 months ago

              Not just that person. A whole lot of people, perhaps astroturfers, unhappy right now.

  • jpreston2005@lemmy.worldEnglish
    311·
    4 months ago

    Incidents of riders clashing with security guards in China have made headlines in the past.

    In January this year, a delivery rider in the eastern city of Qingdao was stabbed to death by a security guard for entering a building without authorisation.

    Just another story about how even the tiniest mote of power can corrupt.

  • Eheran@lemmy.worldEnglish
    103·
    4 months ago

    So did he or not? They have cameras everywhere, right? Guilty people plea for whatever all the time, how is this even news given the little information?

  • occhionaut@lemmy.worldEnglish
    72·
    4 months ago

    “Chinese authorities have called for gig workers to be treated with kindness” is like a mob boss telling their goons not to be too obvious about how they extort their ‘insurance’ money.