Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
Technology has driven the emergence of the gig economy, creating more seemingly flexible opportunities for people to earn income, such as through ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, or freelance labour matching platforms such as Taskrabbit. From these new business models have emerged unique business relationships which do not often fit traditional labour frameworks. For example, workers with tasks that resemble those of regular employees’ may be disguised as “self-employed” individuals, “freelancers” or “entrepreneurs” who do not have access to the same rights and benefits legally due to regular employees, including freedom of association and collective bargaining. While providing ease in the delivery of needed services and offering flexible economic opportunities especially to those who are unable to commit to the rigidity of regular employment (such as mothers and homemakers), the gig economy has also presented serious challenges to upholding labour rights by being linked with precarious work, enforced casualisation, uncertain hours, poor pay and involuntary overtime.
This section explores the positive and negative human rights implications associated with the gig economy, as well as the need to re-imagine and transform legal and policy rights protection frameworks in order to keep up with the times.
Related stories and components
Canada: Foodora accused of pushing back against worker efforts to unionise, as couriers await decision on union certification
Author: CBC News
"Battle between Foodora and couriers could define 'how we do work in this century'", 10 September 2019...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Foodora
UK: Deliveroo riders stage ‘payday’ strike against pay cuts
Author: Robert Cumber, The Star
"Deliveroo couriers stage strike in Sheffield on 'busiest day', 3 September 2019...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Deliveroo
USA: Amazon's decentralised next-day delivery network linked to exploitation of drivers, labour violations & fatalities; Inc. co. comments
Author: Caroline O'Donovan & Ken Bensinger, BuzzFeed News
"The Cost of Next-Day Delivery", 31 August 2019...
- Related stories: USA: Amazon accused of evading legal responsibility for fatalities & injuries linked to next-day deliveries; Incl. co. comments
- Related in-depth areas: Lawsuits Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Amazon.com
Kenya: Google Play Store personal loan policy to regulate growing predatory lending
Author: Victor Amadala, The Star(Kenya)
"New Google app rules to deny borrowers quick mobile loans"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Google (part of Alphabet)
Kenya: Technology-related economic opportunities far outweighs job losses, argues columnist
Author: Bitange Ndemo, Business Daily (Kenya)
"Don’t blame technology for job losses"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Artificial Intelligence Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
Gig economy workers call for improved labour conditions following Deliveroo's sudden exit from Germany
Author: Janosch Delcker and Saim Saeed, Politico
"Deliveroo’s German exit prompts worker outrage", 18 August 2019...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Deliveroo Just Eat Takeaway.com Uber
Kenya: Rise in digital economy contributing to job losses especially in banking sector
The recent past has seen a number of companies including banks declaring a significant number of their staff members redundant as they increasingly embrace digital technology in a bid to reduce staff costs
Kenya: Samasource on how its impact source model ensures it recruits from disadvantaged backgrounds, including women & youth
Author: Moses Omusolo, Standard Digital (Kenya)
"Impact sourcing and its contribution to the Economy"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy Women
Africa could benefit more from digital technology, including job creation, compared to other regions; says World Bank report
A new World Bank report says Sub-Saharan African countries could benefit from well-harnessed technological adoption. The reports urges for supportive policies and investments in digital technonology to put lower-skilled and lower-educated workers in a...
Uganda: Govt. agency claims global technology firms hampering efforts to regulate industry, including protecting data privacy
Author: Eronie Kamukama, Daily Monitor (Uganda)
"Foreign tech firms not easing regulation of sector – NITA-U"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Artificial Intelligence Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
