Author name: debbie.w.collier

Crowdwork – a comparative law perspective

Authors: Bernd Waas, Wilma B. Liebman, Andrew lyubarsky and Katsutoshi Kezuka
Date of Publication: 2017

Just a few years ago, crowdwork was virtually unheard of. That has changed. As if a synonym for the
transformation of work in the digital age, crowdwork is a crucial element of today’s platform
economy in which firms such as Uber, Alibaba, Facebook, Google and Airbnb operate. Crowdworkers
work under very different arrangements, and each case presents a slightly different employment
picture, some crowdworkers perhaps amounting to employees, others more like selfemployed
contractors (and others somewhere in between). But because few crowdworkers currently enjoy
social protections, this study also offers a broad variety of legislative options that could work to
address such shortcomings within several legal systems. [View resource]

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The Social Protection of Workers in the Platform Economy

Authors: Forde C., Stuart M., Joyce S. et al.
Date of Publication: 2017

This study investigates the social protection of workers in the platform economy at the request of
the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee. The report reviews literature
and previous research on the platform economy with the aims of defining it and developing a
typology for understanding its nature. It discusses the growth and drivers of the platform economy,
as well as benefits and challenges for workers, reporting findings from 50 interviews conducted with
expert stakeholders in eight European countries and from an original survey of 1,200 platform
workers. It dissects the different normative layers that need to be considered when looking at the
challenges of social protection of platform workers from a legal perspective. Finally, the report
draws conclusions and makes recommendations concerning arrangements for the provision of social
protection for workers in this growing sector of the economy. [View resource]

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World Social Protection Report 2017-19

This ILO flagship report provides a global overview of recent trends in social protection systems,
including social protection floors. Based on new data, it offers a broad range of global, regional and
country data on social protection coverage, benefits and public expenditures on social protection.
The report follows a life-cycle approach, starting with social protection for children, followed by
schemes for women and men in working age, including protection in case of maternity,
unemployment, employment injury and disability, and those for older persons, including pensions. It
also assesses progress towards universal coverage in health. It calls for greater attention towards the
extension of coverage, adequate financing and strengthening national social protection systems,
with a particular focus on achieving the SDGs. [View resource]

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Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work

This report considers the impact of telework/ICT-mobile work (T/ICTM) on the world of work.
T/ICTM can be defined as the use of ICT – such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop
computers – for the purposes of work outside the employer’s premises. The report synthesises
research carried out by Eurofound’s network of European correspondents in 10 EU Member States –
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK – and
by ILO country experts in Argentina, Brazil, India, Japan and the US. [View resource]

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The Future of Work in South Africa: Conversation III: The Organisation Of Workand Production

Authors: Du Toit, D., Lorgat, A. and Godfrey, S.
Date of Publication: 2017

The paper starts with an overview of the context of global economic and technological change,
which is likely to influence the organisation of work and production over the next two decades. It
then looks at greening of the economy as a generic driver of change and the need for flexible skills
development as well as changes in business models. Special attention is given to self-employment as
a means of delivering goods and services. Potential changes in the model of legal regulation under
the cumulative impact of these changes are considered, followed by changes in the model of social
protection to the extent that it impacts on the workplace. Finally, it is attempted to summarise the
main trends that have emerged and possible features of the workplace of the future. [View resource]

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The Future of Work in South Africa: Conversation II: Decent Jobs for All

Authors: Roger Ronnie, Fairuz Mullagee, Yvette Basson.
Date of Publication: 2017

This paper examines the ILO goal of full employment and decent work, and whether under current
global, regional national circumstances such a goal is achievable in the next 20 years. The concepts
of work, employment and unemployment are also unpacked. The paper further examines threats
and opportunities in pursuing the goal of full employment and decent work in South Africa, within a
context of slow growth, rapid technological advance and the changing nature of work. [View resource]

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The Future of Work in South Africa: Conversation IV: The Governance of Work

Authors: Prof. Collier, D. with Fergus, F.
Date of Publication: 2017

The paper considers the likely impact of the emerging forces in the world of work and a future
governance landscape that will promote social justice, economic development and decent work for
all. It begins by outlining the importance and characteristics of accountable and responsive
governance; followed by a consideration of the challenges we are likely to confront in South Africa.
Thereafter it discusses some of the institutions of public and private governance in South Africa and
suggests ways in which their efficiency and effectiveness may be improved to meet the demands of
the future and ensure that governance institutions and labour market policies are ‘fit for purpose’. [View resource]

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The Future of Work in South Africa: Conversation 1: Work and Society

Authors: Benya A., Tame B., Chinguno C., et al.
Date of Publication: 2017

This paper elaborates on changes taking place in the world of work and their implications for the
relationship between work and society. It draws on extended definitions of what constitutes work
and who is a worker, thus illuminating new actors and incorporating activities that are usually
excluded from traditional definitions of ‘employment’. It also considers how changes in the world of
work will affect society and be affected by: technological changes; spatial shifts and flexibility; youth
employment and skills gaps; rural-urban connections; formal and informal linkages; and internal and
regional migratory connections. [View resource]

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Rediscovering Worker Cooperatives in a Changing World of Work

Authors: Esim S. and Katajamaki W.
Date of Publication: 2017

Worker cooperatives are emerging as an organizational model responding to the changes within the
world of work. They have a specific democratic governance structure of member-worker-owners,
where decisions are made by those directly involved in the enterprise. Any type of business can be
worker-owned and controlled as a cooperative, and worker cooperatives can provide ways for
organizing new forms of work with less dependence on the employer and increased flexibility and
collaboration among workers. This work looks into the different ways in which worker cooperatives
are being used as a response strategy, including through union engagement, worker buyouts,
cooperatives of freelancers, as well as cooperatives using online platforms. [View resource]

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Dependent self-employment: Trends, challenges and policy responses in the EU

Authors: Colin C Williams Frederic Lapeyre
Date of Publication: 2017

Over the past few decades, there has been recognition that the ‘standard employment relationship’
(SER) of formal, full-time and permanent waged employment is becoming ever less the standard
relationship. Given that the SER has been the key vehicle for allocating rights and social protection,
its diminution poses challenges for the operation of regulatory frameworks and raises issues
regarding working conditions, rights and benefits. [View resource]

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