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This article analyses the Chinese government’s ambivalent promotion of collective bargaining in the food delivery platform sector. The digital transition has created new types of employment, representing a significant proportion of the informal economy. Although the government encourages such types of employment to combat poverty, workers struggle to obtain adequate legal protection. The authorities promote collective bargaining to make up the legislative shortfall, but this is often a token effort and of little effectiveness. The unions – under state control – and the platforms dominate the negotiations, leaving workers in a precarious situation.