Chinese online giant JD and its on-demand delivery platform Dada Group, will provide 35,000 jobs during the coronavirus epidemic to minimise its impact on employment.

The initiative is also intended to support SMEs that may suffer from the economic impact of the virus.

About 20,000 of the positions being created will be frontline warehouse and logistics jobs. So far, 700 of the positions have been filled by workers from JD partner firms. The other 15,000 jobs will be offered under Dada Group to support the current rise in online orders for partner retailers. 

JD’s hi-tech supermarket 7Fresh has also initiated a scheme to hire temporary staff from restaurants, hotels, cinemas and other retail firms closed for trading sitting the epidemic. It is also setting up remote working customer service positions for staff who need to remain home with families. 

“7Fresh is operating every day to ensure customers can get enough fresh food,” said the company’s head of human resources Chunhua Cao. “It is JD’s responsibility to work with partners and help them and their employees get through this special time.” 

The temporary employees will be monitored periodically with temperature checks and disinfections as a protective measure against the spread of the virus. They will also receive an insurance package specific to the coronavirus.