The move comes amid a harsh regulatory crackdown on China's
biggest technology firms that has run the gamut of anti-trust probes and fines
to criticism of policies that exploit workers and infringe on consumer rights.
The union, announced on an internal forum last month, will
be initially managed by employees at its Beijing headquarters and will be
guided by the government-backed All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACTFU),
said the people, who declined to be identified as they were not authorised to
speak to media.
Didi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
News of the union was reported earlier by Bloomberg.
The ride-hailing firm has been criticised by state media for
paying its drivers unfairly and is currently the subject of an investigation
launched by several Chinese regulators on the heels of its $4.4 billion US
stock market listing.
In July, the ACFTU and seven other top Chinese government
bodies published guidance about safeguarding the rights of gig economy workers
and suggested unions could play a role in helping negotiate with firms.
China's top court last month also took aim at the overtime
practice of "996", working 9am to 9pm six days a week, a policy
common among many Chinese technology firms, saying it was illegal.
© Reuters