While at his work in a local government office on July 10, Sun — a discipline-inspection officer in Suining, a city in southwestern China’s Sichuan province — was struck by a notice making the rounds. Its contents surprised him: civil servants were now allowed to engage in approved side jobs during their personal time, as long as the work did not interfere with their official duties and they had received prior approval from their employer.

Just two days earlier, the provincial labor union that oversees Sun’s workplace had issued a list of permitted side jobs for public employees, while reiterating strict prohibitions on others. The approved categories included physical labor, freelance writing, self-media operations, professional skills-based services, personal training or coaching, and agricultural planting or breeding.

Under the “physical labor” category, the guidelines explicitly stated that driving for ride-hailing companies or delivering food was permitted as part of the initiative.

Sun acted immediately, deciding to take on food delivery work in his free time. He applied in writing to his employer the day after seeing the notice, received consent, bought an e-bike, and on July 16 began accepting food delivery orders after work.

By July 21, he had logged six evenings of rides, typically starting around 8 p.m. and working about three hours each night, earning between 100 and 120 yuan ($13 - $17), according to a report in domestic media outlet Southern Weekly. He said delivery “felt like playing a video game” — accepting orders, completing tasks, receiving rewards — and it gave him purpose on nights he’d otherwise spend scrolling short video platforms.

In addition to picking up and delivering food orders, Sun shared videos of his experiences on social media. Some viewers have expressed confusion as to why civil servants — a group traditionally seen as enjoying stable incomes and high social status — would need to moonlight as delivery drivers.

“I don’t feel embarrassed. We’re all part of the service industry,” Sun said, adding that riding his electric scooter at night, enjoying the breeze by the river while earning a bit of extra money, was actually quite pleasant.

Since the new policy took effect, Sun said many of his colleagues have followed suit — some signing up for designated driving jobs, others trying their hand at ride-hailing services.

“For now, food delivery is the only side job that really suits me. It gives me more freedom,” Sun said, adding that he would consider other options if something more fitting came along.

After clocking out and shedding their office attire, more public employees have begun exploring after-hours gig work. According to another domestic media report, Luo Lin, based in Sichuan, also took up food delivery. By day, she is an urban management officer; by night, she dons a delivery uniform and picks up orders from restaurants.

She said it was only after stepping into the role herself that she realized how many frontline workers operate under unstable conditions, with little protection or recognition.

Official data shows that 3.416 million people passed the qualification review for this year’s civil service exam, due to take place in November. While the number of job openings remained steady at approximately 39,700, the number of qualified applicants increased by 383,000 from 3.033 million in 2024 — marking the sixth consecutive year of record-high applications.

At the national level, there are no explicit bans on civil servants taking up side jobs. But the country’s law on administrative discipline for public officials states, “Civil servants are prohibited from engaging in profit-making activities … that violate relevant regulations. This includes investing, starting businesses, undertaking contracts, holding shares, or operating individual businesses, all of which are strictly forbidden.” The law goes on to mention that violations may result in disciplinary actions, including removal from public office in severe cases.

In reality, part-time jobs among civil servants exist in a gray area, in part because it is the responsibility of individual employers to outline permissible “profit-making activities” outside of work.

Li Hongbo, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, sees the relaxation of rules regarding side gigs as a “positive signal.” “The original legal provisions need to keep pace with the times and social development,” he told domestic outlet Phoenix Weekly, adding that banning the practice could backfire.

On social media, some individuals claiming to be “part-time public sector workers” operate their accounts anonymously, rarely sharing photos or personal details and often keeping the particulars of their official job vague. Some report their side work to their employers; others do not, according to Southern Weekly.

To avoid being recognized, some chose delivery routes far from their offices and disabled their phones’ GPS-bound contact suggestion feature on social media. Still, it’s often easy for public-sector workers to spot one another while on delivery duty.

“They usually don’t wear helmets or sunscreen. They wear glasses, their skin is pale, and when they approach a residential complex, they often don’t know where the entrance is,” one public servant told Southern Weekly. Sometimes, a glance is all it takes — a silent moment of mutual recognition between people leading parallel, double lives.

Editor: Tom Arnstein.

(Header image: VCG)