Ex-delivery driver gives voice to China's precarious gig workers

Hu Anyan, a former Beijing delivery driver, turned his experiences into the bestselling memoir I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, which has sold around two million copies since 2023 and reached international readers with an English translation released in October. The book recounts long hours, low pay and the unclear employment status faced by many of China's roughly 80 million gig workers.

Hu Anyan once worked as a delivery driver in Beijing and has become a bestselling author after publishing the memoir I Deliver Parcels in Beijing. The book has sold about two million copies since its 2023 release and has been translated for international readers. It describes long shifts, limited breaks, low pay and the uncertain employment arrangements common in China's gig economy. The account has attracted public attention amid broader discussions about job insecurity and worker protections in China. Key facts: - I Deliver Parcels in Beijing has sold around two million copies since 2023; an English translation was released in October and a French edition is due this month. - Hu described working 12-hour night shifts in a large parcel sorting centre, with short breaks, no health insurance and no fixed salary. - He said pay worked out to about two yuan per delivery, meaning he needed to deliver roughly one parcel every four minutes to earn a living, and managers would call if his pace slowed. - The book passed censors with some adaptations and focuses on social commentary rather than direct criticism. - Observers and academics note that most of China's estimated 80 million gig workers have ambiguous employment status and limited access to labour law protections; authorities have introduced some measures in recent years. - Worker voices are relatively rare in China; media reports and NGOs said delivery driver Chen Guojiang, who called online for workers' rights, was imprisoned for several months in 2021 and later disappeared from social media. Summary: Hu's memoir has given a visible human voice to the many delivery workers who help power online retail in China and has resonated with readers confronting job insecurity. The French edition is due this month and Hu is receiving increased public attention and requests from aspiring writers. The broader effects of the book on labour protections and working conditions are undetermined at this time.