China live-streamer earns less than US$1 a month, faces ‘idiot’ insults from firm staff
Low-paid, part-time staffer at online firm called ‘idiot’ and ‘bumpkin’ by fellow staff becomes embroiled in legal dispute over employment
A man in China working as a part-time live-streaming anchor who earns just 0.3 yuan (less than US$1) per month has been insulted by company staff as an “idiot” and a “bumpkin”.
The plight of the online worker has attracted widespread sympathy and sparked a heated discussion on mainland social media.
On October 28, the 38-year-old, surnamed Yao, from Changsha, Hunan province in southern China, told the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald that he felt scammed into providing free labour by the Henan-based Yutai Cultural Media Company.
Yao had found the job opportunity on a recruitment website in September.
The job advert described the position as a part-time, voice-based and talent-focused live-streaming anchor on a social media platform.
The role involved chatting with audiences, singing, playing games and engaging in live interactions.
