Qi Lu Wan Bao·2025-08-28 14:57Core Viewpoint - Meituan announced the cancellation of overtime penalties for crowd-sourced delivery riders starting from the end of 2025, following a pilot program in Guangxi that began in December 2024, indicating a significant shift in the company's approach to rider compensation and management [1][4]. Group 1: Rider Statistics - In 2023, the number of delivery riders with income from orders reached 7.45 million, with high-frequency riders (over 260 days of work) making up 11%, low-frequency riders (30-260 days) at 41%, and occasional riders (less than 30 days) at 48%, indicating that 89% of riders can be classified as crowd-sourced [1]. - The flexibility of crowd-sourced work attracts many part-time workers, including students and office workers, who seek additional income through fragmented time [3]. Group 2: Overtime Penalty System - The pilot program in Guangxi aimed to eliminate overtime deductions, replacing them with a points system, where new riders (within 30 days of joining) had an overtime rate nearly five times higher than experienced riders, highlighting the challenges faced by new entrants [4]. - In March 2022, Meituan began exploring the cancellation of overtime deductions in 15 cities, implementing a service star rating system that shifted from monetary penalties to point deductions, resulting in nearly 80% of riders expressing satisfaction with the new service evaluation rules [4]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - By starting with crowd-sourced riders, Meituan aims to enhance the stability and attractiveness of the entire delivery system, potentially serving as a model for broader implementation across all riders after successful trials [6]. - The cancellation of overtime penalties is expected to improve delivery efficiency, positively impacting customer dining experiences and merchant ratings, while also addressing safety concerns related to riders' behaviors driven by penalty avoidance [6].