Increasingly, both the assignment of work and supervision of work tasks is being handled by algorithms; by digital machines.

In this episode, we look at the dark side of the gig economy “the last frontier of labour exploitation“, as our guest, Emanuele Menegatti, Full Professor of Labour Law, Bologna University, describes it. Why are digital gig workers not covered by our system of workplace rights? Are there ways to bring them into the system?

Secondly, we discuss the emerging issue of algorithmic management with Victor Bernhardtz, Ombudsman for Digital Labour Markets at Unionen, Sweden. What can we expect from The Machine as Boss in and beyond the gig economy?

Middle photo by John Cameron on Unsplash. Podcast featuring music by Forbes Hawkins and Epidemic Sound.

Inquiries

Senate Inquiry on Job Security – A Senate Select Committee is currently conducting an inquiry on job security. The terms of reference include the extent and nature of insecure and precarious work in Australia, the impact of Covid-19 on such work and related issues. Submissions close 31 March 2021 and the AIER will be making a submission.

Copyright (C) 2021 Australian Institute of Employment Rights Inc.. All rights reserved.

1. Executive Member, AIER
2. Sean Scalmer is Professor of Australian History in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at Melbourne University. Sean studied political economy and political science at the University of Sydney, before undertaking a PhD on intellectuals and class in the Australian labour movement. He worked as a research fellow in the Department of Politics, Macquarie University (1998-2004), then as a Lecturer in Sociology (2004-2006) at the same University. He joined the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne in 2007. Sean’s major interests are in the histories of social movements, class, and democracy. orders for food delivery platform workers. [Bio from Sean Scalmer’s Melbourne University webpage]