Editor's note: China has recently released guidelines aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of workers engaged in new forms of employment. China Central Television spoke to Ji Xiaoping, an official in charge of social affairs in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and Zhang Chenggang, director of the research center for new forms of employment at Capital University of Economics and Business on the implications for workers in these sectors. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

New forms of employment, emerging from the internet and the digital economy, include jobs such as food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and online marketers who depend on digital platforms for their work.

There are about 84 million people in these new forms of employment in China, making them an indispensable part of the country's labor market. The number of workers in such new forms of employment will grow steadily, so efforts are needed to balance the inherent flexibility in these professions with the safeguarding of workers' rights by means of standardized management.

Flexibility is a major draw of these new forms of employment, attracting many workers. However, this flexibility can also lead to unstable income and leave workers' rights insufficiently protected. The new guidelines emphasize the need to define responsibilities in a way that addresses the real needs of this group. Rather than forcing these jobs into traditional employment models, the approach should be based on the actual working arrangements of new forms of employment, with clear delineation of responsibilities among employers, platforms and workers. Clarifying which party bears which responsibilities and risks can significantly reduce labor disputes. Algorithms have become an integral part of the labor process. There is a need to prevent algorithms from becoming a black box, especially when rules directly affect workers' interests. Greater transparency and clarity are necessary, and when the algorithms are adjusted, workers should be informed and allowed to participate.

Accordingly, the guidelines outline that government oversight will be strengthened, including the filing and evaluation of algorithms. Mechanisms for consultation and dialogue will be put in place so that workers are fully informed when rules are adjusted. Also, platforms themselves are expected to act responsibly, treating the governance of algorithms as an important part of their corporate social responsibility.

Food delivery riders often race against time, which poses safety risks and other challenges. Some cities have adopted measures to ease the pressure. In Shenzhen, for instance, many skyscrapers in business centers do not allow food delivery riders to park their scooters at the entrance. The delivery riders therefore hand over food orders to last-mile runners to complete the final leg of the delivery. Deliveries are often divided by floor ranges such as lower, middle and higher levels. This allows these runners to become more familiar with their assigned areas and improves overall efficiency.

Shenzhen plans to expand this model to more areas. Delivery riders can be kept out of pedestrian streets, helping maintain better traffic order. And in some large residential communities, deliveries could be dropped off at the entrance, with property management staff taking over the final leg of delivery to customers.