Women gig workers raise pressure for labour reform

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Technology Platforms ◽  
Care Economy ◽  
And Storage ◽  
New Jobs

Subject Women in the gig economy. Significance Work in the ‘gig economy’ relies on digital platforms to bring workers and purchasers of their services together. It has brought new jobs for women but also reinforced existing gender divides in the labour market, with more women, for example, in domestic work than in transport and storage sectors of the gig economy. Impacts The 'care economy' will grow considerably in developed countries due to population ageing and cuts in government funded services. Collective action among female gig workers in isolated domestic spheres will be difficult. Technology platforms themselves could become the forums through which gig workers organise for better working conditions.

Mexico's digital economy faces labour reform pressures

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Upper Secondary School ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Gender Based

Significance The bill will be debated when the new legislature elected in the June 6 mid-term elections is sworn in and starts sessions in September. Besides this bill, the Senate (upper house) is considering three other initiatives to redefine the labour relationship between platforms and their contracted services providers. Impacts High drop-out rates among students in upper secondary school and higher education will increase the number of young gig workers. Women will continue to represent a minority of digital platforms’ workers, widening gender-based economic inequality. Regulations to improve working conditions in the digital gig economy will have a limited impact on reducing Mexico’s informal economy.

India's digital economy workforce is set to expand

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Gender Gaps ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Indian Consumers ◽  
Software Services

Significance Not only has the range of software services provided widened, but a host of other services are being delivered remotely and in person through digital platforms to Indian consumers. This diversification is changing the working conditions of India’s burgeoning digital economy workforce. Impacts Wages in the digital gig economy will fall as more workers enter this segment. Platform work in unskilled areas such as food delivery will lower India’s long-term skills base. Gender gaps in the digital economy will persist given the lack of policy correctives.

Digital Platforms, Gig Economy, Precarious Employment, and the Invisible Hand of Social Class

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carles Muntaner
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Working Class ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Class Conflict ◽  
Precarious Employment ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
Gig Economy

Digital platform capitalism, as exemplified by companies like Uber or Lyft has the potential to transform employment and working conditions for an increasing segment of the worforce. Most digital economy workers are exposed to the health damaging precarious employment conditions characteristic of the contemporary working class in high income countries. Just as with Guy Standing or Mike Savage’s “precariat” it might appear that digital platform workers are a new social class or that they do not belong to any social class. Yet the class conflict interests (wages, benefits, employment and working conditions, collective action) of digital platform workers are similar to other members of the working class.

scholarly journals Ukrainian Gigonomy: Transformation of Employment, Risks and Prospects

2021 ◽  
pp. 43-72
Author(s):  
OLENA IVANENKO
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Soviet Society ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Almost All

The article deals with the transformation of the employment structure and gigonomics. Today, such economic model is becoming the dominant option of choice, which is working in almost all the spheres and sectors of the economy and is increasingly conquering the world. The employment of the population represents the general structure of the economy and changes with it, reflecting the state of development of the country. Structural economic changes have led to a change in the usual forms and types of employment of the population. The market economy served as an impetus for a change in the structure of employment in the former Soviet society, and global economic processes have unified these changes. Today, the dominant trend is the shift of the main vector of economic activity from the sphere of production to the sphere of service (in various industries), small and medium-sized businesses, the applying of the principles of freelancing and outsourcing. There is also a decrease in employment in the fields of science, education, medicine; the science loses its prestige and intrinsic value, scientific knowledge is devalued, and intellectual work is increasingly concentrating in the field of computer technology, creating a huge number of new specialties and professions that require different fundamental training, high qualifications and a large number of work places. The standard principles of organizing the work process are giving way to non-standard ones; preference is given to freedom of choice, flexibility and independence etc. The digital economy and work on digital platforms are relevant, modern and promising, but they are not devoid of certain risks and dangers. Platform employment is precarious, unstable, socially and legally vulnerable, although in developed countries almost a third of the working-age population is employed in the gig economy today. In the article, there are investigated the peculiarities of Ukrainian gigonomics based on the materials of a survey conducted by the author among gig workers in Kiev — taxi drivers of online services (Uber, Uklon, Bolt) and food delivers (Glovo, Bolt Food, Rocket). Besides, there are clarified main advantages and disadvantages of such work and there are described its threats and prospects.

scholarly journals Mobilizing a pluralist theoretical approach to understand microlending digital platforms: the AfricaMC case

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric van Heck ◽  
Ana Clara Souza ◽  
Marlei Pozzebon ◽  
Maira Petrini
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Theoretical Approach ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Online Auction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Auction Models ◽  
Theoretical Approaches

Purpose This study aims to explore how a microlending digital platform connects social investors in developed countries and micro-entrepreneurs in Africa. However, additional research is necessary to discuss how online auction models are designed and implemented and how existing theories can explain their use in the so-called developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a single case study: an online auction model for microlending named AfricaMC. Two main methods collected empirical data, namely, online participant observation, i.e. real-time participation in the online auction market and in the forum of discussions, where the authors observed the processes of microlending transactions as registered members; analysis of online documents, by reviewing forum discussions, analyzing reports, blogs, chats and other materials. Findings The results suggest that using sociological and information systems theoretical lenses in a complementary manner could provide greater value than using economics. Originality/value The study makes two main contributions. First, it mobilizes a pluralist theoretical approach based on economic, sociological and information systems perspectives to improve the understanding of microlending digital platforms using online auction models. Second, it uses the understanding produced from data analysis of one particular African case to validate propositions derived from these three theoretical approaches that might be applied to other cases.

scholarly journals Re-thinking gig economy in conventional workforce post-COVID-19: a blended approach for upholding fair balance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjari Mahato ◽  
Nitish Kumar ◽  
Lalatendu Kesari Jena
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Employee Morale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Management Functions ◽  
Fair Balance

PurposeDespite the trend, managing and maximizing the effectiveness of blended workforce is not well-understood. The purpose of this paper is to institutionalize a blended workforce model in the post-COVID era, that is, a movement from homogenous workforce to heterogenous workforce of full-time employees working in tandem with gig talents connected via digital platforms.Design/methodology/approachThe evolution of gig economy is presented for contextualizing the development of prospective business models in the post-COVID era to establish clarity on the relationship between the employers and the blended workforce. To achieve this conceptual switch, a framework is proposed to support this type of workforce for creating a fair balance.FindingsBy drawing on the concepts of various talent management functions, propositions were made predicting that the alignment of the multilateral activities of the gig workers with permanent workforce will be leveraged in the future to address the needs of short-term specialized skill-sets and scalable operations while creating a fair balance through a flexible and agile workforce.Originality/valueFirst, the paper explores how bridging the gap between the traditional and gig workforce can impact the key antecedents of a blended workforce ensuring a fair trial. Second, on an economical level, the COOKIE framework proposed in the paper is expected to play a crucial role in creating new job opportunities, boosting employee morale while minimizing costs and increasing productivity of the organizations.

Motivations for Labour Provision on Digital Platforms in Europe

2022 ◽  
pp. 81-103
Author(s):  
Joan Torrent-Sellens ◽  
Pilar Ficapal-Cusí ◽  
Myriam Ertz
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Job Quality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Public Employment ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Economic Foundations

Research on the gig economy has rarely addressed the study on the motivations for the provision of labour services on digital platforms. Through a sample of 3,619 gigers in Europe, obtained from the COLLEM research, results have been obtained for labour providers (only gigers) and for labour and capital use providers (gigers and renters). The valuation of labour, being an internal resource of the gigers, has a great set of economic foundations, working conditions, and labour relations. On the other hand, the valuation of labour and capital uses is more focused on their economic and labour relations fundamentals, notably reducing the role of working conditions. These motivations suggest different platform strategies and public employment policies for both groups. While the promotion of the general job quality would also encourage the gig-job quality, the promotion of the labour and capital uses valuation requires specific actions on the platform operations.

Surveying adherence of dental clinic patients to preventive measures in oral cavity

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. V. Kudryavtseva ◽  
V. V. Tachalov ◽  
E. S. Loboda ◽  
L. Yu. Orekhova ◽  
E. Yu. Nechai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Dental Clinic ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Impact

Relevance. Periodontal diseases are a medical and social problem due to the wide spread among the population of developed countries and the impact on the quality of life. Among the many factors that are important in the development of inflammatory periodontal diseases, an important role is played by adherence to the recommendations of the dentist in respecting oral hygiene. Aim of the work was to study the adherence of patients of the dental clinic to compliance with preventive measures in the oral cavity.Materials and methods. A total of 98 patients of dental clinic, 62 female (medial age 38,6 ± 14,0 years) and 36 male (medial age 37,2±13,1 years) participated in survey. The study participants flled in the profle and answered questions about age, gender, harmful working conditions and bad habits, frequency of visits to the dental clinic, attitudes to the prevention of dental diseases, knowledge about the means and methods of oral hygiene.Results. As a result of the study, it was found that in the vast majority of cases, respondents are employed in production that does not adversely affect their health (91%), only 8% of patients indicated harmful working conditions.Conclusions. The study revealed that, despite the recommendations of the dentist, patients are not always committed to the implementation of preventive measures in the oral cavity. Dentists need to motivate patients to use not only the usual methods and means of hygiene, but also additional ones necessary for maintaining dental health.

Mean reversion in corporate leverage: evidence from India

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1183-1198
Author(s):  
Gaurav S. Chauhan ◽  
Pradip Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Mean Reversion ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Debt Ratio ◽  
Testing Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financing Behavior

Purpose Recent papers on target capital structure show that debt ratio seems to vary widely in space and time, implying that the functional specifications of target debt ratios are of little empirical use. Further, target behavior cannot be adjudged correctly using debt ratios, as they could revert due to mechanical reasons. The purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative testing strategy to test the target capital structure. Design/methodology/approach The authors make use of a major “shock” to the debt ratios as an event and think of a subsequent reversion as a movement toward a mean or target debt ratio. By doing this, the authors no longer need to identify target debt ratios as a function of firm-specific variables or any other rigid functional form. Findings Similar to the broad empirical evidence in developed economies, there is no perceptible and systematic mean reversion by Indian firms. However, unlike developed countries, proportionate usage of debt to finance firms’ marginal financing deficits is extensive; equity is used rather sparingly. Research limitations/implications The trade-off theory could be convincingly refuted at least for the emerging market of India. The paper here stimulated further research on finding reasons for specific financing behavior of emerging market firms. Practical implications The results show that the firms’ financing choices are not only depending on their own firm’s specific variables but also on the financial markets in which they operate. Originality/value This study attempts to assess mean reversion in debt ratios in a unique but reassuring manner. The results are confirmed by extensive calibration of the testing strategy using simulated data sets.

A dyadic perspective of socially responsible mechanisms for retailer-manufacturer relationship in an apparel industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aswini Yadlapalli ◽  
Shams Rahman ◽  
Helen Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Factor ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Dyadic Relationship ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Mechanism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritise social responsible mechanisms in apparel supply chains to extend social responsibility from large retailers in developed countries to producers in developing nations. Design/methodology/approach A framework that consists of supplier qualification and supplier relational mechanisms as two socially responsible mechanisms, with five factors and 18 dimensions is proposed. To prioritise the dimensions, analytic hierarchy process is employed by using a case study methodology of a major Australian retailer sourcing from Bangladesh manufacturers. Findings Results indicate that at the mechanism level, both retailer and manufacturers perceive qualification of manufacturer as by far the most critical element compared to the relational mechanism. However, substantial differences exist at the factor level; namely, that the social factor is critical for the retailer, whereas the economic factor is critical for the manufacturer. Within the relational mechanism, evaluation helps retailers to enforce social responsibility, while manufacturers believe collaboration helps. Research limitations/implications The major limitation of this study is the generalisation of the findings. The results obtained by focusing on a particular context in the Australian retail sector importing from Bangladesh, may not be applicable to other nations. Practical implications By highlighting the difference of opinion, this study assists managers in developing guidelines to better understand the socially responsible mechanisms in the retailer-manufacturer dyadic relationship and to propose strategies to address the differences. Originality/value This study advances the literature on inter-organisational relationship to retailer-manufacturer dyad for the implementation of social responsibility by including supplier qualification along with supplier relational mechanism.

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