Why gig work doesn't live up to the hype – and what NZ can do about it
Despite the lure of the gig economy, which promises workers flexibility and independence, platform-mediated gig work is not all it’s cracked up to be. Many workers in the gig economy face the stark reality of not having the most basic forms of job security and are forced to rely on the welfare state. Some countries have responded to this by deeming gig workers to be company employees or giving them an intermediate status where they are entitled to some basic employment rights. However, evidence is starting to show that this approach does not actually result in significant improvements for gig workers.
In this talk, Dr Nadia Dabee explains how Singapore has responded to challenges in the gig economy – the country is attempting to provide a minimum safety net for platform workers while maintaining the economic viability of platform-mediated gig work. She will argue that by adopting a pragmatic “Singapore-style” approach to gig work, New Zealand could also guarantee a minimum floor of rights for our gig workers, improving conditions for all platform workers while retaining the viability of platforms.
Bio
Dr Nadia Dabee is a senior lecturer in the Business School’s Commercial Law Department, where she teaches employment law and taxation law. She is also a teaching award recipient and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (United Kingdom). Her research seeks to clarify employment laws with the aim of improving outcomes for workers.
Event
8:00pm @The Birdcage Tavern, 133 Franklin Road, Freemans Bay, Auckland 1011
Also speaking at this location at 6:30pm is Kathryn Bradbury
