Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/234175 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 849
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
This article investigates the motivation of contingent workers in the gig economy of China, particularly focusing on the two Mobile Food Delivery Aggregators (MFDA) - Meituan and Ele.me that controls over 80% of the food delivery market in China. The convenience of one 'super-app' on phone, offered by each of these companies, allows users to order a diversified range of products and services starting from food, clothing to travel booking and ride-hailing. Online food ordering, however, tops the chart of online orders and this creates millions of food delivery rider jobs/gigs in mainland China. This paper draws key insights from the employee motivation theories by Herzberg and Taylor which underpins the findings and thematic discussion of this qualitative paper. While it is important to recognise that the usage growth of these MFDAs and consequently new gig creation is exponentially growing, the implications of this research would inform these online platform-based companies how to better design motivational factors or incentives to boost their employee satisfaction, engagement and levels of commitments in the colossal Gig economy of mainland China.
Subjects: 
Gig Economy
Contingent Workforce Management
Employee Engagement
Employee Motivation
Employee Retention
Scientific Management Theory
Two-Factor Theory
Collaborative Consumption
China
Mobile Food Delivery Aggregators (MFDA)
Meituan-Dianping
Ele.me
Platforms
JEL: 
D86
J41
L86
M51
M52
M54
M55
O30
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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