The health of workers in the global gig economy

Abstract

BackgroundThe “gig” economy connects consumers with contractors (or workers) through online platform businesses to perform tasks (or “gigs”). This innovation in technology provides businesses and consumers access to low-cost, on-demand labour, but gig workers’ experiences are more complex. They have access to very flexible, potentially autonomous work, but also deal with challenges caused by the nature of the work, its precariousness, and their relationships with the platform businesses. Workers in the Global North and South may also experience these challenges very differently. Based on our report “Towards an Understanding of Canadian Workers in the Global Gig Economy”, we present a commentary on the implications of a globalized online platform labour market on the health of gig workers in Canada and globally.Main bodyBased on our scoping review of peer and grey literature, we categorized gig worker vulnerabilities in three ways: 1) occupational vulnerabilities, 2) precarity, and 3) platform-based vulnerabilities. Occupational vulnerabilities are connected to the work being performed (e.g. driving a car or computer work) and are not specific to platform labour. Precarity refers to the short-term, contingent nature of the work, characteristics that may be shared with other forms of work. Some examples of precariousness are lack of health insurance, collective bargaining, or career training and promotion. Finally, platform-based vulnerabilities are particular to the way platform labour is structured. These vulnerabilities include worker misclassification, information asymmetries, and the culture of surveillance. We suggest that, together, these vulnerabilities challenge gig workers’ right to health.ConclusionsWe propose that the experience of gig workers around the world must be understood in the context of neoliberalism, which has increased both the globalization and precaritization of work. While gig workers share some vulnerabilities, which have important negative consequences on their health, with other workers, the platform-specific vulnerabilities of workers require further inquiry. In particular, the specific health and overall experience of gig workers in different regions of the world – with different labour policies and sociopolitical contexts for work – must be disentangled as workers in the Global North and South experience this work very differently.

Volatile Fragility: New Employment Forms and Disrupted Employment Protection in the New Economy

“…Even though these drivers can enjoy a relatively high degree of autonomy in their work, geolocation devices are in a position to manage their route planning or locations. Meanwhile, their driving times, working hours, and even what they have communicated with clients in their cars are automatically recorded by such devices [24,25]. As one driver explained, he felt he didn't have much autonomy in platform work because he was always under observation and "policed" by the app in real time, and he would be punished for saying something wrong to customers or parking in an unspecified location.…”

Precarious employment and migrant workers’ mental health: a protocol for a systematic review of observational studies

“…In addition, new forms of precarious employment are currently emerging as a consequence of the rise of the so-called "gig economy." Gig work is a type of precarious employment in which consumers connect with workers offering services ("gigs") such as cleaning, cooking, food delivery, and transportation (e.g., Uber) through online platforms [2,3]. Workers in this economy often have nonstandard arrangements that translate to the following: low payment, unstable, part-time, or temporary work contacts, and no or little access to workplace rights and social benefits [2,4].…”

“…Gig work is a type of precarious employment in which consumers connect with workers offering services ("gigs") such as cleaning, cooking, food delivery, and transportation (e.g., Uber) through online platforms [2,3]. Workers in this economy often have nonstandard arrangements that translate to the following: low payment, unstable, part-time, or temporary work contacts, and no or little access to workplace rights and social benefits [2,4]. It is common among vulnerable groups, such as young workers who experience a higher unemployment rate and workers who earn insufficient salaries [2].…”

“…Workers in this economy often have nonstandard arrangements that translate to the following: low payment, unstable, part-time, or temporary work contacts, and no or little access to workplace rights and social benefits [2,4]. It is common among vulnerable groups, such as young workers who experience a higher unemployment rate and workers who earn insufficient salaries [2]. Many factors play a role in the development of these kinds of precarious work conditions, but globalization, neoliberal politics, and regression of social policies are the main factors contributing to precarious employment [5][6][7][8].…”

<b>CONSEQUÊNCIAS DA ECONOMIA GIG NA IDENTIDADE PROFISSIONAL</b>: revisão sistemática da literatura

“…O outro lado da moeda é uma nova modalidade de maximização do processo de precarização social, com baixos pagamentos, ausência de treinamento, onde não há preocupações com a saúde ou benefícios extras, deslocando maior risco para o empregado (BAJWA et al, 2018). O trabalhador então é responsável pela administração do seu próprio trabalho, do tempo necessário para cada operação, bem como dos custos e riscos da sua produção, transformando-o permanentemente disponível (ABÍLIO, 2017).…”