ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Business trends

Alibaba and Amazon borrow furloughed service workers

Cross-industry arrangements ease unemployment pain as pandemic skews labor markets

The coronavirus pandemic sent demand skyrocketing at grocery stores such as Alibaba's Hema Xiansheng chain.   © Reuters

TOKYO -- Online retailers and delivery companies seeing a sudden spike in demand from homebound consumers are borrowing workers from industries battered by the coronavirus pandemic in unusual partnerships that could help ease the pain of unemployment crises.

China, where the virus originated, has been a pioneer. Alibaba Group Holding-owned supermarket operator Hema Xiansheng in February began hiring furloughed employees from 40-plus businesses, including restaurants and taxi companies. This initiative reportedly added more than 5,000 delivery drivers to Hema's ranks.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more