LOW WAGES
Mr Dai, who earns about 10,000 yuan a month, said he has hardly any savings left after paying off his high rental and family expenses.
“In Shanghai, just rent alone will take up about 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. I am staying with my wife and children,” added Mr Dai, who is considering sending his family back to his hometown while he continues working in Shanghai.
“For other riders, if they stay together and share the cost, it may not be so expensive.”
In 2022, when Shanghai was under COVID-19-induced lockdown, delivery riders became the lifelines for millions of residents confined at home.
For another food delivery worker, Mr Deng Erhu, it was the toughest of times.
“I was living on the streets at that time. Every day, as soon as I woke up, I went out to deliver groceries and food to people,” said the 26-year-old.
“My movements were restricted and there were COVID tests all the time. It was cold. I had no blankets. I would sleep under a bridge or in a basement.”
Mr Deng, who is from Henan province, dropped out of school when he was 14 and has no educational qualifications.
“My hometown’s development is a bit slow, wages are low and I am in debt. So I thought of coming to Shanghai, which is a tier-one city,” he said.
“I wanted to see what opportunities I could find here, such as better-paying jobs, so I can earn some money to pay off my debt.”
