Ursula Huws is a long-standing researcher on the labor conditions in the digital economy and has produced the following report, which also distills these “Key policy recommendations“:
- Ensure self employed and freelance workers have greater access to the basic rights enjoyed by those in employment
- Relax regulations that restrict the ability of independent workers to form legally recognised bodies for collective bargaining
- Explore how to adapt welfare and benefits systems to make sure they are fit for purpose in the unpredictable ‘gig economy’
- Clearly define the legal status of companies that crowdsource labour to allow for effective regulation
- Recognise the implications of these new forms of employment for occupational safety and health – both the physical and psychosocial risks.
- Assess risk to government finances from online employers not paying income tax or social security contributions in countries in which they operate
- Investigate innovative new ways to exploit the use of local level, not-for-profit online platforms for the benefit of both local workers and local economies