The Gig Economy: A double-edge sword for worker nights.

The gig or freelance economy has become very popular during the last ten years. Uber, TaskRabbit and, Deliveroo are now household names, with millions of people worldwide making a living from temporary, project-based jobs. Yet, it is argued that the gig economy undermines traditional employment rights despite the flexibility and independence it offers to workers. So what exactly does the term ‘gig economy’ mean for workers’ rights?

What is the gig economy?

The gig economy is characterised by temporary contracts or freelancing instead of conventional full-time employment. Such work is often arranged through internet platforms that link service seekers with those looking for work on such jobs. The gig economy encompasses various types of tasks including driving and delivery services,  programming, and graphic design.

The benefits of the gig economy

Most individuals see it as a flexible form of work unlike traditional forms of employment since there aren't any specific hours to be worked at. Hours of work availability can be chosen by gig employees and even where they'll choose to operate from; thus, they have more control over their earnings. Many people are attracted to this arrangement because they need time for other things such as taking care of children or ageing parents.

The drawbacks of the gig economy

However, critics say that the gig economy has affected traditional worker rights. Gig workers mostly operate as SEs hence they are not entitled to equal treatment and benefits within the law. As such, these freelancers do not qualify for a minimum wage rate and sick or vacation leave. Moreover, there is no health and safety legislation or anti-discrimination laws covering them.

There are fears of marginalisation in the gig economy because of this lack of protection. Some employees have complained of earning much less than the minimum wage while others have been exposed to hazardous working conditions and discrimination.

The future of worker rights in the gig economy

It is still uncertain what will happen to labour rights within this new sector but some nations such as Britain have passed regulations aimed at safeguarding gig workers more effectively. However, it is unclear how far these measures will stretch. Equally, certain platforms used by employers in this field are trying to make better deals for their staff but face opposition from corporations and governments concerned with potential profit erosion.

To sum up, gig economy has its pros and cons. There is an element of flexibility associated with this kind of arrangement as well as independence but also dwindling conventional labor protections. Therefore, we must safeguard these rights even as the gig sector expands so that unfairness does not touch us here at all even if it means signing agreements between authorities and management institutions.