SHANGHAI - Despite having to struggle more than 10 hours daily in the searing summer sun, most of Shanghai's 100,000 couriers do not receive hardship allowances for working in adverse weather conditions.

Representatives of more than 20 courier service companies said they did not give this type of compensation to couriers, according to a report by Labor Daily.

In Shanghai, businesses are required to compensate employees who work outdoors during daytime hours when temperatures exceed 35 C, or while working indoors where temperatures soar above 33 C with a minimum of 10 yuan ($1.48) per day, in accordance with regulations of the Shanghai municipal labor and social security bureau.