Uber's digital labour platform and labour relations in South Africa

Welmah N. Mutengwe, Adrino Mazenda and Moreblessing Simawu

Development Policy Review, 2024, vol. 42, issue 1

Abstract: Motivation With rising unemployment in South Africa, new forms of digital work transcend legal conceptions and discourses on work. Uber's digital labour platform (DLP) has the potential to reduce unemployment and improve the livelihoods of South African households. Purpose We examine the nature of employment through digital platforms to assess how such employment conforms to labour law and regulation in South Africa, the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL). Methods and approach We review the literature on the gig economy, decent work, and labour relations. We examine Uber DLP in South Africa to assess its potential to create decent work given DEL's current labour regulations. We analyse factors that harm the relationship between Uber DLP and DEL. Findings Despite numerous constitutional provisions governing DLP and DEL, Uber DLP workers in South Africa are considered independent contractors not entitled to employee benefits. Uber DLP employees in South Africa make less than the national minimum wage after the platform deducts its fees. Few professional drivers own the cars they drive; they rent them from owners, known as “partners,” and split the earnings, meaning that the drivers earn very little. Policy implications DEL needs to establish a balance between flexibility and labour standards. DEL should preserve workers' rights and ensure financial stability in the digital age. Labour laws should be updated based on reliable data while considering the effects of digitally enabled employment on society and the economy. Platform workers need the same protection at work as other workers.

Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12735

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:devpol:v:42:y:2024:i:1:n:e12735

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0950-6764

Access Statistics for this article

Development Policy Review is currently edited by David Booth

More articles in Development Policy Review from Overseas Development Institute Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().