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The Lesser of Two Evils?: Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework. / Lin, Ou.
In: Social and Legal Studies, Vol. 34, No. 1, 28.02.2025, p. 3-21.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Lin, O 2025, 'The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework', Social and Legal Studies, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/09646639241247292

APA

Lin, O. (2025). The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework. Social and Legal Studies, 34(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/09646639241247292

Vancouver

Lin O. The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework. Social and Legal Studies. 2025 Feb 28;34(1):3-21. Epub 2024 May 7. doi: 10.1177/09646639241247292

Author

Lin, Ou. / The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework. In: Social and Legal Studies. 2025 ; Vol. 34, No. 1. pp. 3-21.

Bibtex

@article{e57d2416e83a4a6dbba8c24a327843b4,
title = "The Lesser of Two Evils?: Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers{\textquoteright} Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework",
abstract = "Drawing on a series of interviews with on-demand food delivery riders, who are rural migrant workers, this paper seeks to explain the workers{\textquoteright} decision to give up stable jobs in factories in favour of largely unregulated and precarious on-demand work. Focusing on those aspects of the legal framework which shape workers{\textquoteright} decisions, it presents the explanation under the dual banners of {\textquoteleft}income{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}freedom and flexibility{\textquoteright}. In terms of income, Chinese law often enables low factory wages and a reliance on overtime; migrant workers view social insurance contributions as a loss; issues with payroll and wage arrears are significant. In terms of freedom and flexibility, insufficient rest rights lead to inadequate breaks for assembly line workers and, compounded by unspecified {\textquoteleft}special working time{\textquoteright} permit physically unbearable shifts without extra compensation. Age and gender discrimination are prevalent both in factories and various sectors. In contrast, on-demand delivery work has relatively low barriers to entry.",
author = "Ou Lin",
year = "2025",
month = feb,
day = "28",
doi = "10.1177/09646639241247292",
language = "English",
volume = "34",
pages = "3--21",
journal = "Social and Legal Studies",
issn = "0964-6639",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Lesser of Two Evils?

T2 - Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework

AU - Lin, Ou

PY - 2025/2/28

Y1 - 2025/2/28

N2 - Drawing on a series of interviews with on-demand food delivery riders, who are rural migrant workers, this paper seeks to explain the workers’ decision to give up stable jobs in factories in favour of largely unregulated and precarious on-demand work. Focusing on those aspects of the legal framework which shape workers’ decisions, it presents the explanation under the dual banners of ‘income’ and ‘freedom and flexibility’. In terms of income, Chinese law often enables low factory wages and a reliance on overtime; migrant workers view social insurance contributions as a loss; issues with payroll and wage arrears are significant. In terms of freedom and flexibility, insufficient rest rights lead to inadequate breaks for assembly line workers and, compounded by unspecified ‘special working time’ permit physically unbearable shifts without extra compensation. Age and gender discrimination are prevalent both in factories and various sectors. In contrast, on-demand delivery work has relatively low barriers to entry.

AB - Drawing on a series of interviews with on-demand food delivery riders, who are rural migrant workers, this paper seeks to explain the workers’ decision to give up stable jobs in factories in favour of largely unregulated and precarious on-demand work. Focusing on those aspects of the legal framework which shape workers’ decisions, it presents the explanation under the dual banners of ‘income’ and ‘freedom and flexibility’. In terms of income, Chinese law often enables low factory wages and a reliance on overtime; migrant workers view social insurance contributions as a loss; issues with payroll and wage arrears are significant. In terms of freedom and flexibility, insufficient rest rights lead to inadequate breaks for assembly line workers and, compounded by unspecified ‘special working time’ permit physically unbearable shifts without extra compensation. Age and gender discrimination are prevalent both in factories and various sectors. In contrast, on-demand delivery work has relatively low barriers to entry.

U2 - 10.1177/09646639241247292

DO - 10.1177/09646639241247292

M3 - Journal article

VL - 34

SP - 3

EP - 21

JO - Social and Legal Studies

JF - Social and Legal Studies

SN - 0964-6639

IS - 1

ER -