Behind the flexibility: insufficient occupational injury protection of gig workers in China.

Objective: Occupational injury protection is essential to safeguard the basic rights of workers. This article focuses on a group of gig workers who have emerged on a large scale in recent years in China and aims to explore their status of occupational injury protection. Methods: Based on the theory of technology-institution innovation interaction, we adopted the institution analysis to assess the work-related injury protection of gig workers. The comparative study was used to evaluate three cases of occupational injury protection in China for gig workers. Results: Institutional innovation failed to respond to technological innovation and provided insufficient occupational injury protection for gig workers. The work-related injury insurance was inaccessible to gig workers due to they were not treated as employees in China. The work-related injury insurance was not available to gig workers. Although some practices were explored, shortcomings remain. Conclusions: Behind the flexibility of gig work is insufficient occupational injury protection. According to the theory of technology-institution innovation interaction, we believe the reform of work-related injury insurance is increasingly essential for improving the situation of gig workers. This research contributes to expanding understanding of gig workers' situation and may offer a reference to other countries on protecting gig workers against occupational injuries.

[Investigation on social security of pneumoconiosis patients in Chongqing].

Objective: To investigate the living conditions, insurance coverage, and assistance of pneumoconiosis patients diagnosed in Chongqing from May 2006 to May 2018. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2018, and 40 890 pneumoconiosis patients from occupational diseases report management agency were obtained. 34 625 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were investigated, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the data. Results: There were 34 625 cases of pneumoconiosis patients alive in Chongqing, and 22730 (65.6%) had participated in work-related injury insurance, 6 308 (18.2%) had participated in basic medical insurance for urban employees which were still effective. 27 056 (78.1%) had participated in cooperative insurance for urban and rural residents which were still effective. 4 393 (12.7%) received assistance for the residents in need in urban and rural areas. 5827 (16.8%) benefited the policy of "Xiangyu Railway". There were 7 961 cases (2.4%) whose work-related injury insurance had expired did not get one-off compensation, and did not receive any assistance. Conclusion: Most of the patients with pneumoconiosis in Chongqing obtained protection in terms of work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, civil assistance and poverty alleviation to a certain extent, but the strength of the guarantee is not enough. Patients with pneumoconiosis might suffer from poverty caused by illness. It is recommended to improve the system of work-related injury insurance benefits, establish special funds for pneumoconiosis patients, strengthen health education and health promotion for pneumoconiosis patients, and strengthen the management of pneumoconiosis patients.