Labour rights and risks in a mutating world

The world of work is undergoing significant changes amidst risks in a precarious setting.

- VITIT MUNTARBHORN

The poly-crisis surrounding the workplace ranges from health risks from global warming and climate change to political constraints and demographic changes with ageing populations in several parts of the world. The challenge is thus to respond with more preparedness in the life cycle of existence, where work is a major contribution to not only human livelihood but also self-esteem with a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging. In particular, the following issues deserve greater attention.

Firstly, there is the exponential spread of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Work has mutated with now a huge "platform" workforce, such as deliverers of food and provisions linked by "apps" and mobile phones. Some belong to groups conditioned by Big Data, while others are more into individual tasks, often working at home, such as writing digital programmes, without long-term contracts, while performing on a more-than-piecemeal basis. Are they employees to benefit from existing labour law and labour rights, such as minimum pay, rest periods, the possibility to belong to trade unions, and sick leave?

The traditional response is to claim that these "gig workers" are not employees but are self-employed or independent contractors, and that they are not covered by labour law. However, this situation is now undergoing reassessment to enable them to be covered by some labour law guarantees. This is especially due to the pressures that many of such workers undergo, exemplified by motor-bike riders having to compete with allocated time to deliver goods, replete with algorithmic targeting for them to perform in good time. In the case of failure to perform, related points will be deducted, thus affecting the promised payment and ultimately, their welfare and safety.