China's netizens rage against professor who said gig work was a type of 'welfare'

A Peking University economics professor sparked outrage after saying gig work’s “flexibility” can be seen as a kind of welfare, a remark that went viral in China.
Social media users angrily called the comment insensitive to gig workers’ harsh realities—pointing to delivery drivers racing algorithms and the pressure of insecure hours.
The debate comes as flexible work surges: about 320 million flexible workers this year (roughly 44% of China’s urban workforce), raising worries about job security and pension strains.