Abstract:This article evaluates the job quality of work in the remote gig economy. Such work consists of the remote provision of a wide variety of digital services mediated by online labour platforms. Focusing on workers in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the article draws on semi-structured interviews in six countries (
N
= 107) and a cross-regional survey (
N
= 679) to detail the manner in which remote gig work is shaped by platform-based algorithmic control. Despi… Show more
“…In addition, workers’ positive identification with being freelancers was contrasted with experiences of conventional employment. The perceived autonomy and flexibility of freelancing made it appealing, even when workers recognised that freelancing entailed a worsening of other labour conditions (Wood et al ., in press). For example, Jayson (Philippines; lead generation) explained:I don't have a boss and stuff, so it's too good to be true … It's very different from [conventional employment] … The jobs that we are being asked to do on GigOnline are most probably the same as what we're doing in the office.…”
This article presents findings regarding collective organisation among online freelancers in middle‐income countries. Drawing on research in Southeast Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa, we find that the specific nature of the online freelancing labour process gives rise to a distinctive form of organisation, in which social media groups play a central role in structuring communication and unions are absent. Previous research is limited to either conventional freelancers or ‘microworkers’ who do relatively low‐skilled tasks via online labour platforms. This study uses 107 interviews and a survey of 658 freelancers who obtain work via a variety of online platforms to highlight that Internet‐based communities play a vital role in their work experiences. Internet‐based communities enable workers to support each other and share information. This, in turn, increases their security and protection. However, these communities are fragmented by nationality, occupation and platform.
“…In addition, workers’ positive identification with being freelancers was contrasted with experiences of conventional employment. The perceived autonomy and flexibility of freelancing made it appealing, even when workers recognised that freelancing entailed a worsening of other labour conditions (Wood et al ., in press). For example, Jayson (Philippines; lead generation) explained:I don't have a boss and stuff, so it's too good to be true … It's very different from [conventional employment] … The jobs that we are being asked to do on GigOnline are most probably the same as what we're doing in the office.…”
This article presents findings regarding collective organisation among online freelancers in middle‐income countries. Drawing on research in Southeast Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa, we find that the specific nature of the online freelancing labour process gives rise to a distinctive form of organisation, in which social media groups play a central role in structuring communication and unions are absent. Previous research is limited to either conventional freelancers or ‘microworkers’ who do relatively low‐skilled tasks via online labour platforms. This study uses 107 interviews and a survey of 658 freelancers who obtain work via a variety of online platforms to highlight that Internet‐based communities play a vital role in their work experiences. Internet‐based communities enable workers to support each other and share information. This, in turn, increases their security and protection. However, these communities are fragmented by nationality, occupation and platform.
“…loss of business very quickly; Moreno and Terwiesch, 2014;Lin et al, 2016;Rosenblat et al, 2016;Tadelis, 2016;Borsenberger, 2017;Jin et al, 2017;Wood-Doughty, 2018). In such a setting, rating and review systems act as disciplinary tools to control freelancers' behaviour and work (Schörpf et al, 2017;Wood et al, 2019).…”
Section: Precarity In the Platform Economy And Implications For Meanimentioning
Growth of the platform economy has been accompanied by critiques of the fragmented, isolated and precarious nature of the employment it offers. Yet, little is known about how creative freelancers perceive the meaning of work on the platforms. Based on 40 interviews with freelancers, clients, platform owners and industry experts, this paper reveals that most freelancers are concerned about how operating through the platform, and their dependence on it, is undermining the meaningfulness of their work. Freelancers find that the platforms are eroding both the manifest (i.e. monetary) and latent (i.e. non‐monetary) meaning of their work although they are mostly concerned about the latent element of meaning. The analysis reveals that the small group of freelancers who pursue meaningful work and earn a sustainable income on platforms are those with strong entrepreneurial orientation.
“…Therefore, it is instructive to consider control in this sector. Algorithmic control has been identified as a central function of gig economy apps and platforms (Lee et al ., ; Rosenblat and Stark, ; Shapiro, ; Gandini, ; Wood et al ., ). Algorithmic control is based upon platform rating and reputation systems.…”
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