Labor woes hit deliveries
By Yang Jian |
January 21, 2013, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ONLINE shoppers may have trouble receiving goods they have bought starting next week as many courier firms are hobbled by workers leaving for home for the upcoming Spring Festival.
The delivery squeeze is happening at the same time that online orders are booming for holiday gifts. The problem is so bad that some online stores are shutting down until the end of next month.
While the holiday is some three weeks away, local courier workers are asking to return to their hometowns early to avoid the travel rush, according to an official with a local STO Express branch in Minhang District.
"Since many courier workers have no long term contract with the companies, they can just leave or even quit during the festival," the official said.
A staff member at a courier branch on Gonghexin Road in Zhabei District said 30 percent of its workers have left for home and more are expected to leave by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, online orders are booming for festival gifts and other products. Orders have tripled for some stores at online shopping website taobao.com.
Some online firms are giving up. "Even if many people come to buy, the couriers cannot deliver," a shop owner said.
Some courier firms are raising salaries to hold onto workers. While the average salary for a delivery worker is about 5,000 yuan (US$802) per month, some are paying up to 6,000 yuan with meals, accommodations and insurance.
The delivery squeeze is happening at the same time that online orders are booming for holiday gifts. The problem is so bad that some online stores are shutting down until the end of next month.
While the holiday is some three weeks away, local courier workers are asking to return to their hometowns early to avoid the travel rush, according to an official with a local STO Express branch in Minhang District.
"Since many courier workers have no long term contract with the companies, they can just leave or even quit during the festival," the official said.
A staff member at a courier branch on Gonghexin Road in Zhabei District said 30 percent of its workers have left for home and more are expected to leave by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, online orders are booming for festival gifts and other products. Orders have tripled for some stores at online shopping website taobao.com.
Some online firms are giving up. "Even if many people come to buy, the couriers cannot deliver," a shop owner said.
Some courier firms are raising salaries to hold onto workers. While the average salary for a delivery worker is about 5,000 yuan (US$802) per month, some are paying up to 6,000 yuan with meals, accommodations and insurance.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
