{
  "id": 18933830,
  "title": "China eyes gig workers and influencers as delegates for Communist Party congress",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/china-eyes-gig-workers-and-influencers-as-delegates-for-communist",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T12:30:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3373702/china-eyes-gig-workers-and-influencers-delegates-communist-party-congress"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the first time, delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and digital influencers could become delegates at the Communist Party’s five-yearly national congress, according to Beijing's latest guidelines. The 21st party congress, scheduled for the second half of next year, expects to host 2,360 delegates who will vote to elect over 300 full and alternate members of the Central Committee. These delegates must represent a diverse range of fields, including business, science and technology, national defense, and social governance, among others. The Organisation Department highlighted that \"new employment groups\" – referring to gig workers – should also be considered for delegate positions. These groups consist of workers in industries that have emerged with the growth of the internet and digital economy, such as food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers, and online marketers. Beijing has recognized this evolving workforce as a potential political blind spot and aims to ensure that the rapid expansion of the digital economy does not undermine political cohesion. The party has pledged to strengthen party building for this group, emphasizing the importance of \"listening to the party and following the party\". In 2021, China reported approximately 84 million gig workers, including about 12 million food delivery riders and 7 million ride-hailing drivers. The State Council released guidelines in October 2022, urging stronger protection of the rights and interests of these workers, improved oversight of the sectors, enhanced information disclosure, and efforts to curb \"rat-race competition\".",
  "summary": "For the first time, delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and influencers could become delegates to the Communist Party’s five-yearly national congress, as Beijing seeks to keep the group close to the official ideology. Guidelines on selecting delegates for the meeting, to be held in the second half of next year, were issued on Saturday. The 21st party congress is expected to bring together…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "MK Party eyes coalition talks with ANC to govern eThekwini",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/mk-party-eyes-coalition-talks-with-anc-to-govern-ethekwini",
        "published": "2026-11-08T08:18:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}