Employment Status and Social Rights of Platform Workers: Asian and European Perspectives

Welcome to our online event focusing on the employment status and social rights of platform workers in both Asian and European contexts. Join us for insightful discussions, expert panels, and interactive sessions where we delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by platform workers in today's digital economy. Gain valuable insights from academics and activists as we explore the evolving landscape of work in the platform economy. Don't miss this unique opportunity to broaden your understanding of this important topic!

Digital technology has transformed the world of work. How to provide decent and sustainable jobs is a core agenda for practitioners and policymakers. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work in 2019 advocates for a human-centred approach and highlights the importance of comprehensive and sustainable social protection. A Directive to regulate the employment status of workers in the platform economy is under the discussion of the EU member states. In the UK, however, the Supreme Court ruled in November 2023 that Deliveroo workers are not entitled to collective bargaining and trade union rights as they were not in an employment relationship. Policy debates are also ongoing in many Asian countries including China and India.

How will these new developments influence the working conditions and social rights of platform workers? What are the new strategies to advocate for labour protection in the global platform economy? The webinar will bring in a group of activists and committed researchers working on platform, technology, and work to reflect on their research and engagement in Europe and Asia.

Date: 25 April 2024

Part I: 9:00am-10:30am BST

The Challenge in Europe: the UK and Germany

Speakers:

Jamie Woodcock (Essex Business School, University of Essex)

Patrick Feuerstein (Social Science Research Center Berlin/WZB)

Discussant: Yu-fan Chiu (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University,, Taiwan)

Part II: 10:45am-12:15pm BST

The experience from Asia: China and India

Speakers:

Anita Hammer (King’s Business School, King College London)

Xiaotian Li (University of Nottingham Ningbo, China)

Discussant: Chris Smith (School of Business and Management, Royal Holloway, University of London)

Organisers: Chris Chan, Sunnie Zheng (School of Business and Management, Royal Holloway University of London)

For enquiry, please contact Chris Chan ([email protected])