China Expands Occupational Injury Insurance Nationwide

China has officially expanded its pilot program for occupational injury insurance for workers in new forms of employment to all 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, marking a major milestone in the country’s social security system. As of July 1, 2026, the program — which covers ride-hailing drivers, delivery workers, and intra-city freight workers — now extends nationwide, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Context

The pilot was first launched on July 1, 2022, in seven provinces and municipalities — Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing, and Sichuan — covering seven major platform companies across four industries. It was designed to address a critical gap in China’s rapidly growing gig economy, where millions of workers faced high occupational injury risks but lacked traditional labor protections because they fell outside the conventional employer-employee relationship framework.

By July 2025, the program had expanded to 17 provinces covering 11 major platform companies. As of the end of June 2026, the cumulative number of insured persons reached 29.902 million, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS).

Key Developments

The nationwide expansion follows a “three-year, three-step” plan jointly issued by MOHRSS and eight other departments. Under this framework, 2025 saw expansion from 7 to 17 provinces; 2026 brings full national coverage; and 2027 will explore adding other high-risk industries.

Fourteen new platform companies were added to the program on July 1, 2026. In the ride-hailing sector, these include T3出行 (T3 Chuxing), 花小猪出行 (Huaxiaozhu Chuxing), 阳光出行 (Sunny Ride), 如祺出行 (Ruqi Chuxing), 享道出行 (Xiangdao Chuxing), 及时用车 (Jishi Yongche), 风韵出行 (Fengyun Chuxing), 首汽约车 (Shouqi Yueche), and 美团打车 (Meituan Dache). In instant delivery, new additions include 小象超市 (Xiaoxiang Supermarket), 盒马鲜生 (Hema Fresh), 叮咚买菜 (Dingdong Maicai), 朴朴超市 (Pupu Supermarket), and UU跑腿 (UU Paotui), as reported by China News Service.

Under the program’s innovative funding model, platform enterprises pay per order while workers pay nothing. Current rates stand at 0.01 yuan per order for ride-hailing, 0.07 yuan for instant delivery, and 0.18 yuan for intra-city freight. The system uses daily enrollment with monthly payment — a design tailored for high worker mobility and multi-platform employment, as noted by the Economic Daily.

Coverage includes injuries sustained during order fulfillment, commuting accidents where the worker is not primarily at fault, and sudden death within 48 hours. The program also innovatively involves commercial insurance companies in claims processing to improve efficiency.

Analysis

The nationwide rollout represents a landmark achievement in China’s social security reform, addressing what experts have called a “no work, no protection” dilemma for gig workers. Unlike traditional work injury insurance, this program does not require an employment relationship — coverage is based on platform work itself.

A MOHRSS spokesperson confirmed in May 2026 that the program had already demonstrated its effectiveness, particularly for major workplace accidents, according to Worker’s Daily. The program’s “three-year, three-step” approach has allowed for gradual, carefully calibrated expansion.

However, challenges remain. Ensuring that all eligible platform workers are actually enrolled, maintaining fast claims processing at national scale, and securing compliance from smaller platforms will be critical. The State Council has previously highlighted the importance of building a more scientific occupational injury identification system and providing comprehensive protections through complementary commercial insurance.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, 2027 will see the program explore inclusion of platform enterprises in other high-risk industries. MOHRSS also plans to integrate injury confirmation, disability assessment, and benefit payment into a single streamlined process. The program’s innovative design — decoupling protection from traditional employment — could serve as a model for other developing countries with large gig economies seeking to extend social security to their most vulnerable workers.

As China’s platform economy continues to grow, this nationwide expansion ensures that millions of ride-hailing drivers, delivery riders, and freight workers — the backbone of the modern digital economy — finally have the safety net they deserve.