From Transitional Labor to Excessive Labor: A Study on the Labor Dilemma of Delivery Riders in the Food Delivery War

Kuo Tian (), Mengyao Wang and Yutong Zhang
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Kuo Tian: Sichuan University, School of Marxism
Mengyao Wang: Sichuan University, School of Marxism
Yutong Zhang: Sichuan University, School of Mathematics

A chapter in Proceedings of the 2026 6th International Conference on Enterprise Management and Economic Development (ICEMED 2026), 2026, pp 286-292 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In the context of food delivery war, algorithm control and platform competition lead to excessive labor with high intensity and low autonomy for riders. Based on 484 questionnaires and in-depth interviews, qualitative, statistical and machine learning methods were used comprehensively. The results show that 66.1% of the riders have severe/extreme overwork, and the pressure of the riders in the special delivery and core urban areas is greater. Platform competition prolongs working hours by decreasing unit price (mediating effect 43.1%); The algorithm control aggravated excessive labor through two paths: the intensification of fines (38.5%) and the decrease of autonomy (21.7%). It is necessary to strengthen labor protection, standardize platform competition, clarify algorithm supervision, pay attention to the differentiated needs of riders with different employment modes, and build harmonious labor relations.

Keywords: platform economy; Overwork; Takeout wars; Political economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-719-4_33

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