China’s netizens rage against professor who said gig work was a type of ’welfare’

China's netizens erupted in outrage after a prominent economics professor suggested gig work constituted a form of welfare. Zhang Dandan, an economist at Peking University, made the controversial statement on a financial show, arguing that flexibility in employment is akin to a benefit for workers. However, the comment sparked fury among the public, who accused her of downplaying the grim realities of the gig economy.

The backlash intensified as China's job market cooled, with a think tank predicting that flexible workers will surge to 320 million by the end of this year, accounting for 44% of the urban workforce. Critics, including nationalist commentator Hu Xijin, deemed Zhang's remarks "shocking" and "unacceptable," urging her to respond to public opinion and apologize.

Despite the controversy, some social media users defended Zhang, noting her previous work on documenting the struggles of gig workers and advocating for their social security. Nevertheless, the professor's framing of flexibility as a perk was deemed insensitive, with many users likening her comments to adding insult to injury for those already grappling with job insecurity.