Mr. Wang has five cell phones in his car, each loaded with a different ride-hailing app. He works full-time in a family-owned restaurant in China’s Guangdong Province, but with the hospitality industry struggling under Covid-19 lockdowns over the past few years, he took to driving in the mornings. Using five different phones means that Wang can pick the most profitable trips, and game the apps’ incentive programs to get extra bonuses. In the past month, as more people have started going out for the Chinese New Year holiday, he’s been able to make around 400 RMB ($59) per shift.
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