OUT NOW! NEW PODCAST EPISODE
JAMES FARRAR: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, EVEN IN THE PLATFORM ECONOMY
In the platform economy, the impact of algorithms and AI on the way we work is no longer future music but daily practice. The platform's algorithm decides but is far from transparent and fair.
British tech expert and former Uber driver James Farrar won several influential court cases against platform companies.
He wants to equalize the balance of power by analyzing drivers' data, and uniting platform workers in the Worker Info Exchange and the App Drivers and Couriers Union.
For The Gig Work Podcast from the WageIndicator Foundation, platform expert Martijn Arets spoke to James Farrar about his fight for justice in the platform economy.
JOIN ‘A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD OF GIG WORKERS,’
WAGEINDICATOR’S NEW GIG WEBINAR ON OCTOBER 27, 2023
How can gig workers regain their negotiation power and build a collective voice?
Join 'A Level Playing Field for Gig Workers'! WageIndicator’s new webinar will take place on Friday, 27 October 2023, from 2 pm to 3.30 pm CEST.
During this event, we want to explore how collective bargaining, representation, and bottom-up ownership and governance can help create a power balance in the platform economy between the companies and the workers.
You can learn more about the speakers and the topics they will cover by visiting the event’s webpage.
You will receive updates in the run-up to the webinar.
We hope to see you there!
Dear reader,
On September 8, at the hearing before the Porto Labor Court, Glovo did not reach an agreement with the courier demanding the company recognize him as a dependent worker.
This is not the first time a Portuguese rider has made his way through the courts, and this is not the first time Glovo has not negotiated with a rider.
Everything started in May 2023, when a package of legislative changes, called the ‘Decent Work Agenda,’ came into force, opening the door for digital platform couriers to benefit from the presumption of employment if the platform somehow sets the remuneration or controls their activity.
Glovo disagreed with these changes to the Labor Code, denying the existence of an employment relationship with its workers.
However, since May, around a dozen riders have been taking action to have their employment relationship with Glovo officially recognized.
The first hearing in this context took place in July, shortly after the new Labor Code approval. Glovo did not present any counteroffer to the rider, whom the platform had deactivated, and the case entered the contestation phase. National and local worker groups heavily contested the company’s attitude, defining it as ‘arrogant.’
On September 8, the scenario repeated itself. The second case involving a courier who wanted to be recognized as a Glovo employee, ended without the parties agreeing. The courier’s lawyer made known that Glovo did not accept the worker’s proposal nor made any suggestions, precisely as during the first hearing in July.
We also need to add another piece of information: the Labor Inspectorate’s investigation targeting Glovo, Uber Eats, and Bolt couriers in various parts of Lisbon and Porto, aiming to understand whether the relationship between those platforms and their couriers is a disguised employment contract through a series of questions: ‘Are you, as a courier, assigned your working hours without any choice possibility? Do you have any time limits to deliver the orders? Is your motorbike property of the company? Are there any penalties for those who decide not to accept a ride in a given hour or day?’
Well, it seems that most of the workers surveyed were in an “irregular condition,” using the words of the Minister of Labor Ana Mendes Godinho. According to the Minister, most worked as independent contractors, leaving them without a social security system or other protection.
In conclusion, despite the fact that not all Portuguese couriers want to be recognized as employees, and defend the autonomy and flexibility that platforms provide them, attention remains high on this story, and more developments are about to take place.
During a recent interview with Eco, Pedro Sobral, the new general director of Glovo Portugal, ensured that they “attribute the same weight and importance to our three fundamental pillars: consumers, couriers, and partners,” and couriers are part of their success; nonetheless, the line Glovo intends to follow with its workforce in the future seems to be clear at this point.
However, the case is raising interest among other couriers, and the number of actions could increase in the next few months.
We’ll keep you updated.
Have a nice day,
The WageIndicator Gig Team
Argentina - The vice governor of Tucumán signed a decree that repealed the law allowing the use of digital platforms in the province. Since these applications exceed provincial control, Uber, Cabify, and DiDi can continue to operate, and in principle, passengers will not have any problems. Drivers will be the only ones exposed to the sanctions. For this reason, Uber workers held a blockade downtown to protest the initiative.
Colombia - While the government promotes labor reform in Congress, delivery company Rappi and Unidapp (Unión de Trabajadores de Plataformas Digitales) agreed to improve worker conditions. Among the issues discussed is the maximum number of notifications riders will receive during the order collection. These cannot exceed three (before, it was sixteen). Also, a monthly meeting will be set up with the union.
India - “We commit to ensuring adequate social protection and decent working conditions for gig and platform workers.” With these words, the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration listed the welfare of gig workers as one of its goals for the future of work.
Indonesia - Most companies rated in the Fairwork Indonesia Report 2023 got just one point out of ten. Grab and Gojek scored only two points, while Borzo and Drive are the lowest, with zero.US - A federal judge said DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats could sue New York City over a law capping how much they can charge restaurants for delivering meals.
Brazil - A Labor Court of São Paulo judge ordered Uber to pay 1 billion reais (205 million dollars) in fines for irregular working relations with the drivers on its app. The ruling also ordered Uber to recognize its employment relationship with all the app's drivers with a penalty of 10,000 reais for each unregistered worker. Uber said it would appeal the decision.
Spain - The Social Court number 1 of Pamplona has rejected Glovo's appeal against a ruling of November 2022. This ruling concluded that there was an employment relationship between 207 workers and the company itself from October 2018 to August 2019.
Argentina
- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (AMT), a transport control agency in Salta, resolved to fine digital platforms for illegally providing services in private vehicles. It establishes that if the vehicle owner offering a transportation service through platforms is fined, the company will also be fined. Additionally, if the driver pays the fine within ten days, they won’t benefit from the reduction of 40% usually provided to other transportation workers.
- The Municipality of Córdoba has presented a draft ordinance to apply fines of more than 2 million pesos against vehicles using the Uber app. The ordinance will be debated in the Deliberative Council.
India - After announcing it in early July, the Karnataka State has notified the health insurance cover for gig workers. A portal will soon be ready for gig workers to apply for the scheme.
Spain - The TAS (Observatorio de Trabajo, Algorítmico y Sociedad), in collaboration with Riders X Derechos and Taxi Project 2.0, filed a complaint against Glovo for alleged crimes against the public treasury and Social Security. The company has carried out the same business model despite labor inspections and sanctions, engaging false self-employed workers.
Insight: Has the Spanish Ley Rider achieved its goals?
Argentina - Taxi drivers demonstrated in Tucumán, demanding the provincial government prevent the operation of Uber, Cabify, and other similar applications.
Australia - The rider's family, who died in Sidney during his work shift in 2020, is still waiting for an insurance payout. Uber Eats stated he was not working for the company when he had the accident since he was hit outside a 15-minute window following a delivery or cancellation.
India - Quick-commerce startup Dunzo has delayed paying August salaries to several workers after having promised to clear them by the first week of September. The company has been struggling to finalize funding amid a cash crunch.
Did you know? As women workers at India's Urban Company prepared for a nationwide protest against rating requirements and account deactivations, they exchanged hundreds of messages on WhatsApp on every tiny detail of the days-long action.
Ireland - Food delivery workers denounced being forced to pay up to 20 percent of their earnings to account holders, purportedly to cover tax. In Ireland, self-employed people can legally rent accounts to students or other workers.
Italy - Two hundred Deliveroo and Glovo riders suspended deliveries in Milan for two days, demanding the application of a minimum rate, higher bonuses, and refunds for their vehicle maintenance.
Lebanon - Bolt has stopped its motorcycle service throughout the country. The change comes after some car drivers complained that Bolt motorcycle drivers were "taking their place."
Nigeria - E-hailing drivers denounced too high platform commissions, along with the increment in fuel pump prices.
South Africa
- Three men associated with the minibus taxi industry would have intimidated Bolt Bajaj Qute drivers in the area of Randburg, Johannesburg. In the past few weeks, the police started confiscating some of these quadricycles since the drivers did not have valid operating licenses.
- Drivers have reacted to Bolt’s latest policy, which promises a reduced 10% commission rate, even though it requires them to accept rides from its lower-priced economy class and slashes fares in the company's bid to win back customers from the competitor InDriver.
- The E-Hailing Partners Council called on drivers to march in Johannesburg and protest against high platform commissions, low fares, unfair dismissals, and dangerous workplaces.
Spain - The Association of Work Accident Mutual Insurance Companies estimates that in 2022, 4,735 accidents occurred to people who commute to and from work by bicycle or scooter. Workers in the delivery sector suffered 15.5 percent of these accidents.
United Kingdom - Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat signed a chart of ten road safety principles with London’s transport authority, pledging to keep their motorcycle couriers and other road users safer.
Did you know? A London delivery rider might earn 60 to 80 pounds for 12 hours of work – in effect, half of the hourly minimum wage, meaning they must work between 80 and 110 hours a week.
Germany - After shutting down its business in many countries, including Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France, Getir has been declassed to a 2.5 billion dollar valuation, meaning it is no longer a decacorn. Decacorns are start-ups that exceed the valuation of 10 billion dollars.
India
- Swiggy has partnered with EV service provider Sun Mobility to power more than 15,000 electric bikes that are a part of its delivery fleet for the next 12 months.
- To engage employable Persons with Disabilities, Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five State Governments. The opportunities will be provided for various roles, including packing and sorting.
Indonesia - With more than 2 million drivers, Gojek plans to switch entirely to electric motorbikes by 2030.
Did you know? 1,8 million euros is the value of the food delivery market in Italy.
Mexico - Uber has announced an investment of more than 200 million pesos in the state of Jalisco, whose capital, Guadalajara, is the third city in business volume for Uber Eats.
Nigeria - Glovo has partnered with the supermarket retailer ShopRite as part of its strategy to improve home deliveries in the country.
The Netherlands
- Spar Nederland and Uber Eats announced a collaboration allowing customers to order daily groceries and convenience products from twenty Spar stores nationwide.
- Thuisbezorgd.nl will deliver groceries from Amazing Oriental, the largest Asian supermarket chain in the country.
UK - Deliveroo added to its website over 3,000 instant commerce company Gopuff’s everyday essentials, and customers will be able to receive groceries in 20 minutes.
US
- The Uber teen accounts are now available in the Boston area, allowing younger customers to request rides and order food with parental supervision and extra safety features.
- Uber Eats announced two new grocery delivery partnerships, the first with The Save Mart Companies and then with The Fresh Market.