The gig economy — work arranged through digital platforms on a short-term, flexible basis — has grown enormously over the past decade. Its defenders argue that it creates opportunity, flexibility, and access to income for people who might otherwise struggle to find traditional employment. Its critics argue that it is a mechanism for corporations to access labour while avoiding the obligations that come with employment: sick pay, holiday pay, pension contributions, and basic income security. The classification of workers as 'independent contractors' rather than employees has been challenged in courts across Europe and North America. The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Uber drivers are workers entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay. The gig economy is not going away — but its regulatory framework must evolve.

💡 Did you know? Spain introduced some of the world's strictest gig economy regulations in 2021 with the 'Riders' Law', requiring platforms to classify delivery workers as employees. The debate over its effectiveness continues.