Rethinking Job Quality Frameworks in the Context of Platform Work: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries
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Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT)
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| Format: | Capítulo de libro |
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International Labour Organization
19/03/2026
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| author | Uma Rani Nora Gobel |
| author_facet | Uma Rani Nora Gobel Uma Rani Nora Gobel |
| contents | Rethinking Job Quality Frameworks in the Context of Platform Work: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries Uma Rani Nora Gobel This chapter critically assesses the inadequacy of traditional job quality frameworks in evaluating platform work and calls for new, platform-specific indicators. Using ILO survey data from 18,000 platform workers across various sectors and countries, the analysis reveals the limitations of focusing solely on traditional metrics. The chapter proposes a more nuanced approach that incorporates factors specific to working in this sector. Key findings show that, while platform work can be a primary income source, especially in developing countries, it is often marked by low, fluctuating pay and carries significant worker-borne costs. Meanwhile, job security is undermined by algorithmic control and the constant threat of deactivation; while the flexibility offered is often illusory, with long hours and high stress, leading to the erosion of work-life boundaries. This adapted framework provides a more accurate understanding, crucial for developing policies to ensure decent terms and conditions for those engaged in platform work. In a Turbulent Era series, Edward Elgar Publishing 10.4337/9781035343485.00010 DOI https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035343485.00010 publication.bookChapter |
| format | Capítulo de libro |
| id | ilo_995699140502676 |
| institution | Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) |
| publishDate | 19/03/2026 |
| publisher | International Labour Organization |
| spellingShingle | Rethinking Job Quality Frameworks in the Context of Platform Work: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries Uma Rani Nora Gobel Rethinking Job Quality Frameworks in the Context of Platform Work: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries Uma Rani Nora Gobel This chapter critically assesses the inadequacy of traditional job quality frameworks in evaluating platform work and calls for new, platform-specific indicators. Using ILO survey data from 18,000 platform workers across various sectors and countries, the analysis reveals the limitations of focusing solely on traditional metrics. The chapter proposes a more nuanced approach that incorporates factors specific to working in this sector. Key findings show that, while platform work can be a primary income source, especially in developing countries, it is often marked by low, fluctuating pay and carries significant worker-borne costs. Meanwhile, job security is undermined by algorithmic control and the constant threat of deactivation; while the flexibility offered is often illusory, with long hours and high stress, leading to the erosion of work-life boundaries. This adapted framework provides a more accurate understanding, crucial for developing policies to ensure decent terms and conditions for those engaged in platform work. In a Turbulent Era series, Edward Elgar Publishing 10.4337/9781035343485.00010 DOI https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035343485.00010 publication.bookChapter |
| title | Rethinking Job Quality Frameworks in the Context of Platform Work: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries |
| url | https://researchrepository.ilo.org/esploro/outputs/bookChapter/Rethinking-Job-Quality-Frameworks-in-the/995699140502676 |