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
Brazil: Reports claim application delivery workers work harder, earn less and do not receive support from companies, during the pandemic; includes company response
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, deliverers of product delivery platforms such as Rappi, UberEats and Ifood have ensured that many people abide by social distancing measures. However, the applications claim that they have no...
UK: Delivery companies criticised over alleged failure to provide workers with protective equipment; incl. comments
Kenya: Uber drivers to earn less after company increases commission from three to 25 percent citing 'unprecedented times'
Author: Annie Njanja, Daily Nation (Kenya)
"Uber drivers face earnings drop as coronavirus bites"...
- Related in-depth areas: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak: Government & business response Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Uber
USA: Uber drivers say company's inconsistent sick policy pushing them to keep working; includes company response
Author: Tyler Sonnemaker, Business Insider (USA)
'In order to make a living I must put myself and my community in danger': Uber drivers say the company's inconsistent sick pay policy is pushing them to keep working — even if they get sick, 7 April 2020...
- Related stories: COVID-19 highlights lack of social protections for gig economy workers
- Related in-depth areas: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Uber
Author: Project PODER
“Cabify durante COVID-19: o te recortas el sueldo o renuncias”, 1 de abril de 2020 ...
- Related in-depth areas: Brote de COVID-19 (Coronavirus): respuesta gubernamental y de las empresas Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Cabify
UK: Minicab app Bolt to face legal action over minimum wage & workers' rights
Author: Robert Booth, The Guardian
A minicab app bidding to topple Uber in London is facing legal action over claims it underpaid the minimum wage – a move also intended to force it to provide drivers with workers’ rights....
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Bolt
Uber & Lyft to compensate drivers quarantined or diagnosed with Covid-19
Author: Kari Paul, The Guardian
"Coronavirus forces companies like Uber and Lyft to reckon with workers' rights", 11 March 2020...
- Related stories: COVID-19 highlights lack of social protections for gig economy workers
- Related in-depth areas: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Lyft Uber
Belgium: Labour authority launches court case against Deliveroo over legal status of riders
Author: Marine Strauss & Clement Rossignol, Reuters
"Belgian labor authority launches court case against Deliveroo", 20 Jan 2020...
- Related in-depth areas: Latest Legal News Technology and Human Rights Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
- Related companies: Deliveroo
UK: 'Upstart unions' are organising workers against precarious employment in gig economy & outsourcing
Author: Bethan Staton, Financial Times
"The upstart unions taking on the gig economy and outsourcing", 19 January 2020...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
Author: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre、Open Global Rights及びワシントン大学*法の支配イニシアチブ
[日本語翻訳記事提供: 経済人コー円卓会議日本委員会] 協力パートナー：Open Global Rights とワシントン大学*法の支配イニシアチブ テクノロジー(技術)は、人権にとって強力なツールになります。人口知能やブロックチェーンな どの新しいテクノロジーは、人権の促進と保護に大きく貢献する可能性があります。同時に、人工 知能、自動化、ロボット工学の急速な発展による人権および将来の仕事への潜在的な影響につい て、また、その拡大によって誰が利益を得、誰が損失を被る...
- Related stories: New blog series on Technology and Human Rights in collaboration with OpenGlobalRights and UW Rule of Law Initiative
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Artificial Intelligence Technology and Human Rights: Automation Technology and Human Rights: Digital Freedom Technology and Human Rights: Gig Economy
