RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · 2016 · 90 citations · 0 references
Open access
Social SciencesEconomicsHuman Resource ManagementLabor EconomicsLabor PolicyLabor RightsEmploymentGig Work RegulationLaborWork DesignWork SchedulingWorking HoursGig Economy Labor PolicyGig Work PlatformsGig Worker RightsLabour Administration
The gig‑economy, rapidly expanding and encompassing crowdwork and app‑based on‑demand work, offers flexible job matching but risks commodifying labor, a concern largely ignored in labor‑rights discussions. This paper argues that gig‑economy activities should be fully recognized as work to address the negative effects of commodification.
The so-called “gig-economy” has been growing exponentially in numbers and importance in recent years but its impact on labour rights has been largely overlooked. Forms of work in the “gig-economy” include “crowdwork”, and “work- on-demand via apps”, under which the demand and supply of working activities is matched online or via mobile apps. These forms of work can provide a good match of job opportunities and allow flexible working schedules. However, they can also pave the way to a severe commodification of work. This paper discusses the implications of this commodification and advocates the full recognition of activities in the gig-economy as “work”.