Youth and migrant workers’ labour precarity in an algorithm-driven world
Keywords:
Platform economy, Gig Economy, Migration, Labour Rights, Algorithmic managementAbstract
In the digital age, where information and people are constantly on the move, regulations are needed that address the interplay of these two phenomena. A few decades ago, Digital Labor Platforms (DLPs) began to proliferate, allowing flexible access to the labour market without entry requirements. These characteristics mainly attract workers with fewer opportunities to access other sources of income. In the absence of regulation in this area, people whose activity is carried out through PDLs are completely unprotected and subject to abusive practices such as “incorrect classification” of their employment relationship with the platform; continuous availability; extended working hours; lack of social protection; digital disciplinary control, etc. In response to this situation, Spain passed the so-called “Rider Law” in 2021 and the European Union passed Directive 2024/2831. What improvements does this directive introduce? What does it omit? This publication seeks to understand the socio-economic context and the new legislation framework.
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