Meituan to change delivery algorithm rules as China urges labour protection

Debate on how to regulate workers' rights in the digitised "gig economy" has been unfolding around the world, with trade unions saying management algorithms on international platforms are eroding gig workers' wages and rights.

Chinese food delivery giant Meituan has published the rules showing how algorithms estimate the time it takes delivery workers to complete jobs and said it was adjusting them, after the government urged firms to improve working conditions. (Subscribe to our Today's Cache newsletter for a quick snapshot of top 5 tech stories. Click to subscribe for free.) Regulators have come down hard on big technology firms this year, criticising them for policies that exploit workers and infringe on consumer rights, and have drafted guidelines requiring food delivery platforms to guarantee minimum pay and rest periods.