Drivers in the southwestern city of Kunming held a demonstration on 5 September protesting harsh new work rules that cut their pay and forced them to work faster.

One driver named Sun reported that pay rates had dropped from 6.5 yuan per kilometre to 4 yuan per kilometre, and that the time allowed for each delivery had been shortened from 43 to 37 minutes. Under the new rules, their pay had dropped from around 200 yuan to 120 yuan per day, he said.

“Am I supposed to drive through red lights?” Mr Sun asked. “Putting this pressure on us is simply toying with our lives.”

Meituan responded by blacklisting four drivers who demanded the company change its policies. A Meituan company representative denied however that the blacklisted drivers had a labour relationship with the company. None of the drivers had labour contracts.