From Workers to Taskers?: Philosophical Consideration on What They Have Lost

Background and Purpose: The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought about significant transformations in the employment landscape of welfare states, particularly in the proliferation of the Gig Economy. Individuals who engage in this type of work typically work under a task-based contract with businesses to carry out tasks like food delivery, ride-sharing, and customer support, to name a few. The gig economy, which is thought to be used by 16% of Americans (Pew Research Center, 2021) is typically unconnected to welfare benefits and perks offered by employers to protect employees. The objective of this research is to conduct a philosophical examination of the characteristics of platform labor and the experiences of individuals engaged in this type of work. In doing so, this paper attempts to foresee the societal problems that the platformization of labor will bring about and are urging social welfare scholars to take action to prevent them.

Methods. This paper employs a systematic review method to examine the characteristics of platform work through the lenses of political economy and capitalism. This paper explores the challenges faced by platform workers through the lens of prominent philosophers, such as Karl Marx, Jacob Hacker, Jeremy Rifkin, and Guy Standing. Specifically, it examines the prevalent problems of exploitation, insecurity, loneliness, and alienation that have been identified in previous research on platform workers. The paper ultimately examines the potential future implications of this trend on the overall welfare of employees.

Results: The prediction of philosophers, who conducted an analysis of capitalism, remains applicable in the examination of labor within the gig economy. Prior research indicates that workers are exploited through remuneration based on piece rates, algorithmic labor control resulting in diminished autonomy, out-of-pocket expenses for labor-related costs, and inappropriate working conditions. Furthermore, the precariousness of platform workers is being exacerbated by their flexible work arrangements and earnings, as well as their ineligibility for social safety nets intended to safeguard workers. The theory of worker alienation posited by Karl Marx is observed to manifest in contemporary platform workers as well. As platform workers were reduced to parts that repetitively performed micro-tasks assigned by AI, they were experiencing 'alienation' from the products they created, the production work they do, and their true inner selves who want to fulfill their own goals and aspirations through their job.

Conclusions and Implications: The current state of platform workers' impoverished qualities may lead to a feeling of relative deprivation, accompanied by a combination of emotions such as anxiety, anger, alienation, and anomie. The gig economy is expected to involve 52% of the American workforce by 2023. However, the social welfare field has yet to actively address concerns regarding the potential loss of rights and decline in the quality of life experienced by these workers. It is imperative to implement practical and policy measures in the realm of social welfare to prevent social problems and safeguard the rights of workers who are experiencing a rapid and inconspicuous erosion of their entitlements.