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
UK: Govt. introduces reforms to strengthen workers' rights yet fails to address rights of zero-hours workers, unions say
Author: Rajeev Syal and Heather Stewart, The Guardian
Legislation that comes into effect on Monday will increase fines for employers who have deliberately victimised their staff, and give workers details of their rights from the first day in their job....
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
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Kenya: Artificial Intelligence likely to exacerbate inequality gap
Author: Abel Muhatia, The Star (Kenya)
"Artificial Intelligence likely to widen wealth gap – report"...
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So. Africa: Increasing use of artificial intelligence among threats facing trade union movement
Author: Natasha Marrian, Business Day (So. Africa)
"Unions face extinction as the world of work marches on"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
Author: Rachel Knaebel, Basta ! (France)
« Pour la première fois, un livreur à vélo de Deliveroo est reconnu comme salarié », 9 novembre 2018...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
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IMF research finds women are at higher risk for negative impacts of automation
USA: Amazon's pay increase will not apply to Flex workers, inc company comments
Author: Olivia Zaleski, Bloomberg
"Amazon Raises Minimum Pay for Everyone—Except These Workers", 1 Nov 2018...
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How digital banking is causing job losses in east Africa
Author: Allan Olingo, The East African (Kenya)
"Hi, I am Leo, and I can help you: Banks going digital"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
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UK: Deliveroo's employment practices contradict GDPR regulations & undermine workers' rights, says union
Author: Aliya Ram, Financial Times
"Deliveroo’s substitute courier policy called into question", 6 August 2018...
- Related stories: General Data Protection Regulation: Issues of compliance and non-compliance
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- Related companies: Airbnb Deliveroo Uber
UK: Govt. commissioned report calls on Deliveroo to pay living wage; co wants 'charter' offering riders more benefits without risking self-employed status
Kenya: Digital taxi drivers protest pricing skewed in favour of companies to their detriment
Author: Rael Ombuor, Voice of America
"Kenya's Digital Taxi Services Paralyzed, Strike Enters 4th Day"...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Uber
