labour

Gig economy workers say they can no longer survive

Paris (AFP) - Whether in Paris, Kuala Lumpur or California, gig economy workers fear they can no longer survive on meagre earnings from jobs that leave them increasingly vulnerable. The term "gig" stretches back a century to jazz musicians who used it to refer to a one-off show but now the "gig economy" involves  millions of people in all sorts of jobs, from Uber drivers to Deliveroo delivery teams. Algorithm slaves -  Wissem Inal does more than 700 kilometres (450 miles) a week on his scooter, delivering up to 10 takeout meals in the Paris suburbs every evening.  "At the moment, with the lock...

Gig economy workers say they can no longer survive

Paris (AFP) - Whether in Paris, Kuala Lumpur or California, gig economy workers fear they can no longer survive on meagre earnings from jobs that leave them increasingly vulnerable. The term "gig" stretches back a century to jazz musicians who used it to refer to a one-off show but now the "gig economy" involves  millions of people in all sorts of jobs, from Uber drivers to Deliveroo delivery teams. Algorithm slaves -  Wissem Inal does more than 700 kilometres (450 miles) a week on his scooter, delivering up to 10 takeout meals in the Paris suburbs every evening.  "At the moment, with the lock...

US labor board challenges Google moves against activist employees

San Francisco (AFP) - Google has been given two weeks to respond to a US labor board complaint accusing the internet giant of using surveillance, interrogation and other tactics to spy on activist employees. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaint filed late Wednesday stemmed from the dismissal a year ago of a quartet of employees dubbed the "Thanksgiving Four." The workers sought a federal investigation into their dismissal, alleging they were sacked in retaliation for their labor organizing efforts, while Google maintained that the employees had violated data security policies. A...

Apps win, labor frets after Uber-led 'gig worker' measure passes

San Francisco (AFP) - A victory for the "gig economy" in California is likely to echo across the US, in a boon for app-based services while igniting fear that big business is rewriting labor laws.Rideshare and delivery apps matching tasks with those willing to perform them as independent contractors sidestepped a labor law with the passage of Proposition 22 in a referendum put before state voters."Going forward, you'll see us more loudly advocate for new laws like Prop 22," Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said. "It's a priority for us to work with governments across the US and the world...

Seattle sets minimum wage for Lyft, Uber drivers

Washington (AFP) - The US city of Seattle has announced a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers, a move criticised by the ride-hailing companies as potentially destroying thousands of jobs.The northwestern city is the second in the United States to impose such measures after New York in 2019."The pandemic has exposed the fault lines in our systems of worker protections, leaving many front line workers like gig workers without a safety net," Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement Tuesday.The minimum wage "guarantees that drivers will receive fair pay and can provide for themselves and ...