Firms pledge continued deliveries during holiday

Delivery companies have promised services will continue during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, when consumer demand is likely to be heavy.

Deppon Express was the first to make such a pledge, on Dec 14, and it was followed by companies including ZTO Express, Yunda Express and STO Express.

They also promised to control prices within a reasonable range to relieve people's concerns. ZTO Express said every parcel it collects under 1 kilogram will see a rise in price of no more than 1.5 yuan (23 cents).

Li Qin, a director at STO Express in charge of logistics services over the Spring Festival holiday, told China Youth Daily the company organized the team for holiday delivery services around a month ago.

To encourage more delivery workers to stay at their positions over the holiday, Li said the company plans to give them unspecified financial incentives and allowances.

A delivery worker surnamed Gao from SF Express who serves two communities in Beijing's Chaoyang district said that he plans to stay put over the holiday.

"What I am concerned about is that I might be unable to return if I get infected accidentally due to ongoing sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks," he said.

"It will take a long time for quarantine and treatment then. The company said we will get additional payment for the holiday, so why not stay here? I can apply for leave after the travel rush and reunite with my family at that time."

The State Post Bureau said on Tuesday that delivery services for the Spring Festival holiday will run from Jan 30 to Feb 4. It said delivery companies must maintain the safe and regular operation of delivery stations over the holiday and give delivery workers a sense of achievement and happiness through improved conditions.

The bureau said about 660 million parcels were collected and delivered during the Spring Festival holiday last year, a year-on-year rise of 260 percent.