ETUI-ETUC conference 2016 Panel 17 Michael Silberman Atlas

Toward an Atlas of Platform-Based Work

Photo: Kevin McShane


Content of this talk

Questions we don’t have answers to

Who needs the answers?

Toward a list of “data” requirements

A coordinated effort is needed

Next step


Questions we don’t have answers to


Questions we don’t have answers to•What are the major labor platforms?


Questions we don’t have answers to•What are the major labor platforms?•Which platforms are important in different

countries?



countries?•On the different platforms:



countries?•On the different platforms:•What work is done?



countries?•On the different platforms:•What work is done?•How many workers and clients are active?



countries?•On the different platforms:•What work is done?•How many workers and clients are active?•What are the work processes?



countries?•On the different platforms:•What work is done?•How many workers and clients are active?•What are the work processes?•What issues face workers and clients?



countries?•On the different platforms:•What work is done?•How many workers and clients are active?•What are the work processes?•What issues face workers and clients?•How much do workers earn?


Inc. Magazine, Feb. 2015


Questions we don’t have answers to•Are workers “really” self-employed?


Questions we don’t have answers to•Are workers “really” self-employed?• If not, do they want employee status?


Questions we don’t have answers to•Are workers “really” self-employed?• If not, do they want employee status?•How does international competition play out

over platforms?



over platforms?• To what extent do crowd workers take work

from employees, and to what extent are they doing new work?




from employees, and to what extent are they doing new work?•What lawsuits/policy changes are underway?




from employees, and to what extent are they doing new work?•What lawsuits/policy changes are underway?•What worker initiatives are underway?


Questions we don’t have answers to• To ensure that platform-based work is

“socially sustainable”:



“socially sustainable”:•What is the role for policy makers?



“socially sustainable”:•What is the role for policy makers?•What are the research needs?



“socially sustainable”:•What is the role for policy makers?•What are the research needs?•What is the role for worker organizations?



“socially sustainable”:•What is the role for policy makers?•What are the research needs?•What is the role for worker organizations?•What is the role for new entrants

(competitors)?



“socially sustainable”:•What is the role for policy makers?•What are the research needs?•What is the role for worker organizations?•What is the role for new entrants

(competitors)?•What are “cross-cutting” projects (e.g.,

cross-platform reputation)?



•Workers



•Workers

•Clients



•Workers

•Clients

•Worker organizations



•Workers

•Clients


•Policy makers



•Workers

•Clients


•Policy makers

•Platform operators


“Data” requirements



•Platforms•Kind of work•Registered and “active” clients and

workers by country• Transaction volume by country•Process• e.g., microtask, freelance, contest-based• Evaluation and quality control•Rating, screening, and blocking of workers


Janine Berg, International Labour Office. 2016. Income security in the on-demand economy. Comparative Labor Law and Policy Journal 37.



•Platforms (cont.)•Pay•Worker relation to earnings•Worker communication and activities• Forums•Organizing via social media, etc.•Software tools•Guides for workers and clients•Pressure on institutions (e.g., universities)



•Countries / legal regimes• Employment status tests•Competition law (esp. re worker organizing)•Requirements on platforms•Responses to grievances from clients and

workers•Administrative requirements (e.g.,

receiving mail)•Data requirements



•Countries / legal regimes• Lawsuits•Policy changes / debates•Cross-platform worker organizing


A coordinated effort is needed


What now?

Photo: Kevin McShaneM. Six SilbermanCrowdsourcing ProjectDivision for Gender, Diversity, and EqualityIG Metall Vorstand / HeadquartersFrankfurt am Main, [email protected]

ETUC / ETUI Conference:Shaping the New World of WorkBrussels, Belgium27. - 29. June 2016

Panel 17: Working Conditions of Platform Workers29. June 2016

Toward an Atlas of Platform-Based Work

ETUI-ETUC conference 2016 Panel 17 Michael Silberman Atlas

Presentations & Public Speaking

Transcript of ETUI-ETUC conference 2016 Panel 17 Michael Silberman Atlas