Online platforms and “dependent work” after uber

Abstract

Digitalization is bringing new challenges, including changing the way how people work, which create uncertainty. Technology driven innovations are changing the way of work, while society react to such development by creating different types of jobs and workplaces. What is important today can be redundant tomorrow. Labour and civil laws will need to react to keep up with such changes. The main aim of this paper is to focus on the specific types of activities – such as virtual work or crowd work and the relationships between digital platforms, workers, employers, and clients while offering and providing services via online platforms. Further the paper will outline the responsibility of online platforms if considered to be in a position of an employer. Due to the lack of compliance with labour laws and related duties, online platforms can gain an unfair competition advantage compared to "traditional" employer. Virtual workers can potentially suffer from inadequate or limited access to the certain kind of protection (when compared to the "traditional" employees). Further the paper will consider the responsibility of online platforms if they are in fact to be considered an employer.