One handshake, one concern

On the eve of the May Day holiday, a reporter met courier Liu Kuo on Liulichang Cultural Street in Xicheng District, Beijing. He was busy collecting parcels, packing, and delivering them along the streets and lanes, and during breaks he came to the "Xicheng District Allday Service Station" to rest. The station is equipped with facilities such as a water dispenser, microwave oven, and firstaid kit, making him feel as if he had a temporary home on the road. The article looks back at two occasions in 2019 and 2026 when visits were made to couriers and food delivery riders. General Secretary Xi Jinping had cordial exchanges with them respectively at the courier service point in Shitou Hutong, Qianmen, Beijing, and at the Parents' Canteen on Xinjiekou Street, asking in detail about their work, income, and living conditions, and stressing the important role that the courier and food delivery industries play in the operation of the city. In recent years, with the development of the platform economy and new forms of business, the number of workers in new forms of employment has continued to grow. The article introduces measures such as pilot programs for occupational injury protection, labor rules and algorithm negotiations, the construction of union service stations, and rider apartments, explaining that related rights protection and service management are gradually improving, while also giving workers a greater sense of belonging and respect in the city.