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IN THIS ISSUE, YOU CAN READ ABOUT:
- What it costs to be a gig worker in the Netherlands
- Fair pay for freelancers? Discover how
- What the challenges and alternatives are in taxing the gig platforms
- Insights from 47 ride-hailing court cases from 2016 to date
- Where gig workers have been protesting lately and why
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THE COST OF BEING A GIG WORKER IN THE NETHERLANDS
How much does it cost a gig worker to be a gig worker?
This is the question that WageIndicator aims to answer through the Cost of Living survey.
To calculate the income that workers should receive to live a decent life, WageIndicator relies on over 300 collectors around the world to find out how much people spend on various essential expenses, including food, housing, utilities, and more.
These expenses also cover some work-related costs that a gig economy worker incurs to do their job, including equipment, vehicles, petrol, and so on.
In this newsletter, we'll explore how much these costs are rising, using visualisations and focusing on different countries each time.
This time, the focus is on gig workers in the Netherlands, with an emphasis on food delivery riders, taxi drivers, and freelancers who work remotely online.
BROWSE THE VISUALS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CLOTHING, ELECTRONICS, AND VEHICLE COSTS
Would you have expected these cost fluctuations or not? Which cost increase surprised you the most? Let us know by replying to this email!
To find out more about the Cost of Living survey, click here.
Did you know that WageIndicator, in partnership with GIZ, has launched the Living Tariff tool to help gig workers calculate and negotiate fairer pay? Read more here.
TOWARDS A LIVING TARIFF: EVEN FREELANCERS DESERVE A FAIR INCOME
"Whether you are an employee, entrepreneur or freelancer, you deserve an income you can live a decent life on. It may sound logical, but it is far from being so everywhere in the world."
With these words, Paulien Osse, co-founder of the WageIndicator Foundation, introduced the new Living Tariff tool at the WageIndicator 25th anniversary conference in Pune, India.
Large companies such as Unilever, IKEA, and L'Oreal have been using WageIndicator's calculations for ten years to determine what a living wage is for their employees.
One group was still missing: workers who are not employed. The WageIndicator Foundation developed the 'Living Tariff' specifically for them.
In a new episode of The Gig Work Podcast, Martijn Arets interviews WageIndicator colleagues involved in developing the tool.
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NAVIGATING THE TAX MAZE: CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVES IN TAXING GIG PLATFORMS
The intermediary and cross-border nature of platforms, combined with the classification of gig workers as independent contractors, has made traditional tax mechanisms inadequate.
Many countries are using gig platforms as tax collectors. However, the lack of a regulatory framework leads to non-compliance by both platforms and workers.
Specifically, this blog examines the case of Indian platforms Swiggy and Zomato and their recent tax battle.
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More than Uber: An overview of 47 court cases from 2016 to date
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Having analysed court cases in the food delivery sector from 2016 to 2024, we’re now looking at court cases in the ride-hailing sector, collected in the Gigpedia database.
Some results are predictable, such as Uber in first place in terms of the number of cases in which it is involved; other results are a little less obvious: did you know that many battles are still ongoing and that the ride-hailing sector has a higher proportion of cases in favour of workers compared to the food delivery sector?
Discover these and other curious cases by browsing the dashboard on Gigpedia:
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Where Workers Strike and Why (May 2024 Edition)
Sources: Palermotoday.it, Cronica.com.ar, x.com, x.com, Wired.com, Mirror.co.uk, Restofworld.org, Restofworld.org, Mybroadband.co.za
More news from Workers WorldWide: Health Insurance for Nigerian Drivers, Foreign Delivery Workers Raise Their Voice Against Xenophobic Attacks
Belgium - Drivers are concerned about Uber's entry into Luxembourg from mid-June.
Ireland - Foreign delivery workers in Dublin have denounced being the victims of xenophobic attacks. And it's not the first time.
Italy - Just Eat could abandon the national collective agreement with its employed riders, citing high costs and fierce competition.
Malta - Drivers reported working up to 15 hours a day due to high platform commissions.
Nigeria - Twelve ride-hailing companies have agreed to provide health insurance to drivers.
Spain - Taxi drivers in Barcelona have staged protests against Uber, Cabify, and Bolt.
Thailand - Female delivery and ride-hailing drivers have found innovative ways to support each other.
Did you know? Â Older individuals are turning to gig work, too.
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