Systematic Evaluation of Platform Work Against Decent Work Standards: Development of a New Framework and Application in the Global South

Digital Development Working Paper no. 85, 2020

22 Pages Posted: 4 Aug 2020

See all articles by Richard Heeks

Richard Heeks

The University of Manchester

Mark Graham

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Paul Mungai

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Jean-Paul Van Belle

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Jamie Woodcock

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: April 2, 2020

Abstract

Platform work, also known as gig work, is a fast-growing trend, estimated to involve up to 40 million workers in the global South. Celebrated in some quarters, growth of the gig economy has also been a cause for concern about the nature of jobs being created. Yet, while it is the focus for a growing body of research, there has been a lack of systematic frameworks to evaluate this type of labour against decent work standards.

This paper reports on the development of such a framework, based on five principles of fair pay, conditions, contracts, management and representation. Following its development, the framework was applied via worker interviews to 11 digital labour platforms in South Africa covering ride-hailing, delivery, domestic and digital work. It finds positive evidence around pay, safety interventions, communication and worker interaction for some workers and platforms. But the framework also exposes workers paid less than minimum wage and working very long hours, incorrect employment classification, and absence of collective representation.

Alongside its analytical value for understanding emergence of the gig economy, the framework can also be used in practice to inform platform eco-system stakeholders as a basis for improvements in worker pay and conditions.

Suggested Citation

Heeks, Richard and Graham, Mark and Mungai, Paul and Van Belle, Jean-Paul and Woodcock, Jamie, Systematic Evaluation of Platform Work Against Decent Work Standards: Development of a New Framework and Application in the Global South (April 2, 2020). Digital Development Working Paper no. 85, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3645151 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3645151

Richard Heeks (Contact Author)

The University of Manchester ( email )

Oxford Road
Manchester, N/A M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Mark Graham

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.geospace.co.uk

Paul Mungai

University of Cape Town (UCT) ( email )

Private Bag X3
Rondebosch, Western Cape 7701
South Africa

Jean-Paul Van Belle

University of Cape Town (UCT) ( email )

3rd Floor, leslie Commerce Building
Engineering Mall, Upper Campus
Cape Town, Western Cape 8000
South Africa

Jamie Woodcock

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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