Liu Qiangdong Promises No Layoffs Again, but What's Truly Worth Watching Is Not the Robots

When Liu Qiangdong promoted the 'five insurances and one fund,' many felt it was a case of an entrepreneur's conscience awakening. I see, however, another question: why specifically at that point in time?

Because in the years around then, China began promoting the inclusion of flexible employment personnel into the social security system. Delivery workers, couriers, ride-hailing drivers—those who were previously outside the social security system began to be required to join. Many understand this as protecting workers' rights, but for the authorities, these people have another identity: a paying population.

When the platform economy was expanding rapidly in the past, flexible employment was an advantage. Companies had fewer burdens, workers received cash, and the state was happy to see favorable employment data. Once population aging arrived and pension pressure mounted, the fact that tens of millions of flexible employment personnel had long been outside the system suddenly became a problem. Because if these people don't pay today, who will fill the pension gap tomorrow?

Therefore, an interesting phenomenon appeared around 2025. Platform companies began collectively discussing social security, collectively discussing responsibility, and collectively discussing guarantees. JD.com promoted the 'five insurances and one fund,' Meituan followed suit, and Ele.me followed suit. On the surface, it looks like the companies' awareness has improved, but in reality, it is more like the policy direction has already been set.

Many people are moved as soon as they hear 'five insurances and one fund.' But the problem has never been the name, but rather who pays and who benefits.

For someone earning 3,000 yuan a month, the biggest concerns are next month's rent, children's tuition, and food money. As a result, the focus of social discussion has become how to get them into the payment system. It is difficult to raise wages, difficult to increase workers' bargaining power, and difficult to let ordinary people share more of the fruits of economic growth. But expanding the scope of payment is very easy.

Thus, an absurd situation arises: the people creating wealth are getting more and more tired, while those studying how to distribute the small amount of money left in their pockets are becoming more and more active.

Now Liu Qiangdong has come out again to talk about robots and no layoffs. Many people see the robots. I see the continuation of the same logic.

Last year it was the 'five insurances and one fund.'

This year it is robots and no layoffs.

The surface theme has changed, but the underlying logic remains the same.

As employment pressure grows, the population ages, and pension pressure becomes heavier, large platform companies are no longer just performing commercial functions, but are increasingly assuming stability functions.

Therefore, the most worthwhile part of this news is not whether Liu Qiangdong has a conscience.

But rather why, whenever the system faces new pressure, someone always comes forward to promise responsibility.

As for who ultimately bears these costs, the answer is usually not complicated. Whoever is the weakest bears it. Whoever has no bargaining power bears it. Whoever cannot decide the rules bears it. Looking at many news stories this way actually makes them clear all at once.