Jingdong (JD) Logistics says it will hire 5,000 people in preparation of next month’s ‘618’ shopping festival. Hiring will be focused on frontline staff and bottom management, with more than half serving in warehouse operation and production roles, according to the company.
It did not specify whether these are temporary or permanent roles. This expansion of JD Logistics’ headcount follows reports in April that the company had canceled basic salaries and benefits for couriers in the wake of huge losses.
JD Logistics has taken steps to expand offerings in the past month, including bringing next-day delivery to 300 Chinese cities and extending personal courier services to 50 cities.
Held during the first 18 days of June, ‘618’ is JD.com’s answer to the Alibaba-spawned ‘Singles Day’ shopping gala. Last year, JD.com, which is part of the Jingdong Group that also owns JD Logistic raked in RMB 159.2 billion (USD 25 billion) from the festival, with the cumulative value of delivered orders increasing 37% year-on-year.