Gig economy needs regulation to save workers from precarity

Gig economy workers risk being trapped in a precarious existence, forced to devote more time to working for platforms such as Uber and Deliveroo in order to remain financially stable.

According to a report by thinktank Doteveryone, gig economy companies claiming that they provide flexible jobs for complex modern lives are in fact trapping some employees in a financially insecure lifestyle.

The report argues that the spiral can be reversed by government action – or by the platforms themselves adopting changes, which could be implemented rapidly.

“The platform economy enables flexible work but not everyone benefits equally,” said Catherine Miller, interim chief executive officer of Doteveryone.

“The recommendations set out in this report can happen immediately and show that, in shaping the future of work, technology can and should be used responsibly to create a fair, inclusive and sustainable democratic society.”

Working for any of the platforms carries hidden costs such as money for fuel and insurance, the report details.

Doteveryone suggests three key policies that could improve life for workers: a minimum gig wage, to cover the additional costs; modifications to the government’s national retraining scheme; and the introduction of new governance structures at gig employers to give workers a greater voice in the design of the platforms.