HONG KONG – The representative threw himself on gasoline and set himself on fire. Swallowed by the flames, he protested what he said were unpaid taxes from a business linked to Chinese technology giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
“I want my blood and sweat money,” said the man, Liu Jin, covered in ashes, while police officers tried to rush him to the hospital on Monday, showed a widely distributed video posted on social media.
Mr. Liu, 48, who survived but suffered severe burns, is one of millions of Chinese technology workers whose situation has sparked online complaints from internet giants in the country by internet users, and state media. The cry shines in the spotlight on the grueling working conditions and state-of-the-art work practices that many blue-and-white-collar workers face as internet companies work to fight users.
Mr. Liu delivered the meals through a subcontractor of Alibaba’s Ele.me food delivery service in the eastern Chinese city of Taizhou, according to the local government. Ele.me said she paid for Mr. Liu’s medical expenses and continues to help him and his family. He also said that Ele.me forbids the agencies he works with from paying for delivery trips and that he is investigating the case.
In recent weeks, Pinduoduo Inc., a fast-growing e-commerce company now rivaling certain measures with Alibaba, has also faced criticism after the death of two 20-year-old workers: one crashed on its way home from work at 1:30 am and the other jumped from a height. Pinduoduo confirmed the incidents and expressed his condolences to the families of the workers.