Cross-Country Study on the Gig Economy 2020-2021: Platform Work, Pay and Rights

Abstract

While the platform economy is growing rapidly in the Netherlands and abroad, knowledge about income and legal positions of platform workers lags behind, both among policymakers and platform workers themselves. Systematically gathered knowledge is needed to achieve improvements, preferably in dialogue with platform workers and their representatives. A good view of schemes (or initiatives to create them) and income in a varied group of countries can be used immediately to achieve improvements with platform workers and their representatives. This includes collective bargaining agreements, contracts, remuneration systems, legislation and, of course, organisational forms, such as a trade union, a platform workers group, a cooperative, or a Facebook community. By means of the WageIndicator infrastructure and methodology, the existing knowledge arrears can be quickly and effectively made up. More details about the project.

This report seeks to provide insights into the working conditions and rights of platform economy workers globally, and in particular: Argentina, South Africa, Spain, India and the Netherlands. The report gathers insights from the WageIndicator Foundation’s “Platform Workers: Decent Rights and Pay” survey data. In this regard, this report’s objective is to process, use, and offer action-oriented information that could fill in the knowledge gaps in the domains of rights, pays, and working conditions in the gig economy. While this report doesn’t aim to influence policy decisions, it does aim to discuss the conditions of the gig economy and the existing labour law surrounding the same.

Key Words: Gig Economy, Platform Work, Gig Workers, Labour Rights, India, Argentina, Spain, South Africa and The Netherlands