Activity

Over seven million digital ‘platform workers’ around the world are harnessing opportunities in the fourth industrial revolution, connecting to work in new ways. Work through apps or social media tends to be precarious and the "race to the bottom" results in low wages and long hours, so while this economy is growing, individual earning is declining. Lack of updated regulation and policy means workers are often treated as temporary staff or contractors with little opportunity to establish improved pay and conditions. Workers in these environments are then trapped in a downward spiral of lack of opportunities, becoming increasingly desperate for even more work. There is an urgent need to better understand the implications of platform governance for workers and create spaces for advocacy on how worker rights are upheld. Our session will explore the gendered impact of digital platforms on workers and how they can be configured to guarantee fair, dignified work, and gender equality.