Behind the bright city lights are countless gig economy workers who keep the city running. Real estate agents, home renovation technicians, and cleaning and repair staff navigate streets and neighborhoods through all seasons, ensuring citizens can live comfortably. These workers often face high job intensity and unstable income, meaning a sudden major illness or accident can leave their families financially strained. Recently, a new support mechanism for frontline workers in the housing industry called the "Healthy Home Guardian Fund" disclosed its latest disbursement progress. In Tianjin, three frontline service workers have successfully received relief funds, including two diagnosed with malignant tumors and one who suffered a sudden brain disease. Each received 20,000 yuan in rescue funds, gaining a corporate safety net during their personal hardships.
The constant risk of unexpected events highlights the need for better protection. The three beneficiaries in Tianjin are all frontline real estate agents who have worked long-term in their communities. Each is the primary breadwinner for their family, and sudden severe illnesses—two cases of malignant tumors and one sudden brain disease—pushed their stable home lives into crisis. High surgical costs, ongoing post-operative medication, and rehabilitation nutrition expenses put immense pressure on their families. The arrival of the 20,000 yuan rescue fund provided some relief for initial treatment costs. According to the local real estate service industry in Tianjin, agents work outdoors year-round, showing properties and enduring all weather conditions, with a fast-paced work culture. Liu Min, a veteran agent with eight years of experience in Tianjin, said, "Our job seems flexible, but income fluctuates a lot. We're not afraid of hard work, but we fear getting sick. If we fall ill, income drops for months, but expenses like mortgages and children's tuition don't stop. I used to feel insecure, but now this fund gives me at least some emergency backup." For the real estate and home renovation industries, the stability and well-being of frontline workers directly impact service quality and industry reputation. The protection gap for this group still needs further attention from all parties.
Companies are stepping up by donating to establish instant support mechanisms. The "Healthy Home Guardian Fund" was established through personal donations from BEKE-W co-founders Peng Yongdong and Shan Yigang, targeting frontline workers in the housing industry. No personal fees or additional registration are required. Workers automatically qualify for benefits six months after starting or joining a company, covering over 500,000 housing service workers, including real estate agents, cleaners, repair workers, carpenters, painters, and installers. The fund offers three tiers of assistance. The "Life Emergency Fund" provides 20,000 yuan within two working days after a major illness diagnosis and complete documentation. The "Family Warmth Assistance Fund" offers a one-time payment of 100,000 yuan for workers who lose full working ability or pass away. On top of that, the "Children's Education Fund" provides 20,000 to 100,000 yuan in educational support based on the child's school stage. Additionally, this fund can be combined with BEKE's "Green Plan," established in 2008 and running for years, which offers up to 2 million yuan in disease and accident relief for workers and their families. As of July 27, the latest data shows that since applications opened on April 23, a total of 4.76 million yuan in relief funds have been distributed nationwide, helping 115 worker families. Among them, eight individuals double-claimed benefits, receiving a total of over 720,000 yuan.
When a major illness strikes, emergency funds can arrive in just two days. Wang Qiang, a veteran real estate agent in his forties from Tianjin, is a typical beneficiary. Having worked in the industry for over 20 years since around 2000, he has been showing properties in all weather, often working day and night. Colleagues saw him as tough and rarely sick, "almost never going to the hospital." The change came in November last year when Wang frequently experienced bloody stools. Initially, he thought it was just a common stomach ulcer and took medication on his own, not taking it seriously. After the Chinese New Year, symptoms worsened, leading him to Nankai Hospital for a check-up. The diagnosis of colon malignant tumor shattered his peaceful life. In April this year, Wang successfully underwent surgery at the Tianjin People's Hospital. Although the surgery was successful, the long road to recovery kept him awake at night. More than the pain of the incision, he was distressed about the family burden. "My child is only 10 years old and needs money. If I collapse, what will happen to my child?" The financial pressure of treatment and recovery was real. The single surgery cost 30,000 to 40,000 yuan out of pocket, and during the at least one-year recovery period, monthly expenses for chemotherapy drugs, nutritional protein powder, and regular blood tests amount to 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. By chance, he saw a pop-up notification for the "Healthy Home Guardian Fund" application in his work system. Unfamiliar with the document requirements, he had his application returned twice for format and missing documents. Back-office staff guided him through the process by phone, explaining each step. After the third submission, the application was approved, and the 20,000 yuan rescue fund arrived. "The 20,000 yuan isn't a huge amount, but it's a great psychological comfort," Wang said. Although his family had savings, the fund helped cover some out-of-pocket surgical costs and eased the cash flow pressure after diagnosis. For major illnesses, BEKE's "Green Plan" also offers a larger reimbursement mechanism.
Collaborative efforts from multiple parties are continuously strengthening the safety net for the new employment group. Currently, China has 84 million gig economy workers, accounting for 21% of the national workforce, making them a core force in maintaining urban operations and ensuring public services. In recent years, various regions have been increasing protections for this group. For example, Chengdu has opened express clinics for ride-hailing drivers and delivery riders, offering 1 yuan registration and 24-hour phone consultations, addressing gaps in urban public services. Meanwhile, several leading platforms are shifting from a traditional "efficiency and traffic" model to a "humanity, protection, and warmth" approach to high-quality development. By building their own charitable protection systems, they are creating a safety net for flexible employment workers. This profound change in industry governance philosophy highlights the growing importance of workers' professional dignity, health rights, and living security. Personal donations from entrepreneurs to support workers' health protection, without profit motives, no contribution thresholds, and a focus on privacy, provide a useful reference for exploring how social forces can participate in protecting gig economy workers. With over 100 beneficiaries nationwide and targeted assistance for three workers in Tianjin, tangible and visible protection results are giving more frontline workers hope and a sense of warmth. One beneficiary in Tianjin said, "I usually help others find homes, and when I faced difficulties, someone helped me. It warms my heart." A BEKE representative in Tianjin stated that the company will continue to increase awareness of the Guardian Fund, extend it to all stores and business scenarios, and regularly conduct outreach, application guidance, and hardship assistance services. This will help more frontline agents, renovation technicians, and support staff understand and access the program, continuously filling protection gaps for gig economy workers and weaving a tight safety net for people's livelihoods with a sense of responsibility.
Comments