Chinese professor describes gig work as form of ‘welfare’ - Taipei Times

FLEXIBLE EMPLOYMENT:

With gig workers making up about 44% of China’s urban workforce, Zhang Dandan’s comments sparked public outrage

The term “flexible employment” has gone viral in China after a prominent economics professor described gig work as a form of “welfare,” drawing widespread public anger and highlighting deep anxieties over job insecurity.Zhang Dandan (張丹丹), a professor of economics and deputy dean at Peking University’s National School of Development, made the remarks during a discussion on social protection for gig workers, on the popular financial show Let’s Talk (張丹丹) last week.She said that from the perspective of labor economics, “flexibility itself is a form of welfare.”

A delivery worker rides a bike past the CITIC tower in the background during sunset in Beijing’s Central Business District (CBD), China, July 6, 2026.

While regular employees trade schedule flexibility for pensions and other benefits, flexible workers enjoy greater control over their time at the cost of weaker social protections, Zhang said.The comments triggered a fierce backlash over the weekend, with social media users accusing Zhang of being oblivious to the harsh realities of the gig economy.