China remains the world's largest e-commerce market, a position it has held for many years. Among the dominant players in this landscape is JD.com, often referred to as 'China's Amazon'. As artificial intelligence (AI) drives layoffs across companies and countries, the founder of JD.com has made a significant commitment to its massive workforce. Liu Qiangdong, the founder of JD.com, vowed to prevent the company's 900,000 employees from losing their jobs to automation during a recent town hall meeting. According to a report by Bloomberg, this pledge aimed to ease growing concerns that the adoption of AI and robotics could replace human workers.
Liu's Assurance to Employees
The report highlights a video circulating on social media that shows Liu addressing employees earlier this week. The significance of Liu's promise lies in the fact that JD.com is one of China's largest employers by headcount. Liu reportedly told employees that he will 'do everything possible to safeguard employment for hundreds of thousands of staff, including blue-collar workers.' He added, 'JD.com will not fire a single front-line worker replaced by machines.'
JD.com's Workforce and Automation Efforts
According to a recent filing, JD.com employs a diverse range of staff, from couriers and store clerks to AI trainers and robot maintenance engineers. The Chinese retailer is reportedly experimenting with various unmanned technologies, including 'unmanned warehouses, drone delivery, self-driving vehicles, unmanned delivery stations, and convenience stores, among others.'
China's Legal Stance on AI Layoffs
Liu's comments come after a Chinese court ruled in late April that companies cannot terminate employees or cut their salaries solely to replace them with AI systems. The court determined that a tech company had illegally laid off a worker after replacing him with artificial intelligence software. In its ruling, the court issued an implicit warning to other employers. 'The development of artificial intelligence technology should be applied to liberating labor, promoting employment, and improving people's livelihood,' the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court wrote. 'Labor law allows employers to undertake technological changes and upgrade their operations, but it should also take into account the protection of workers' legitimate rights and interests.'
JD.com's UK Expansion Plans
Recently, JD.com is reportedly planning a potential $2.69 billion bid for The Very Group, a British online shopping platform. According to a report by Sky News, this move represents the Chinese company's latest push to expand in the UK market. This follows JD.com's earlier UK efforts, including its failed takeover bid for electricals group Currys and its decision in 2025 to walk away from talks to acquire Argos from Sainsbury's. A report claimed in January that Carlyle, the owner of The Very Group, is planning a £2 billion sale of the company, just months after taking control of the British retailer. Carlyle took control of the group in 2025, ending the Barclay family's long-standing involvement in the business.
