Date Published:
Mar 04, 2021
Focus Area(s):
Code:
DP 2021-11

Platform work has the potential to help women reconcile the age-old conflict between unpaid work and market work. However, there is a degree of precariousness in platform work, one that is reminiscent of informal work. Concerns on whether platforms are new vehicles of delivering old inequalities are legitimate. This paper analyzes the issues in this emerging type of work to prevent the widening and deepening of existing inequalities, to ensure decent work in platform work, and to ensure that the work is inclusive and sustainable. It looks at the experience of Filipinos in crowdwork, a platform work that poses challenges in the enforcement of national labor laws as transactions are typically cross borders. The study finds, among others, that: (1) women are more likely to participate in platform work due to considerations of income, housework, and care economy; (2) platform work is done alongside nonplatform work; (3) past experience on the platform is an important factor in the workers’ current platform involvement; (4) the time spent on platform work peaks at minimal care work; (5) there is no gendered difference in the compensation per hour once personal and platform attributes are controlled for; and (6) the compensation per hour received by the respondents is at par with the rate of platforms known for outsourcing routine tasks (microtasks). The study also provides key takeaways to initiate conversations on national programs and initiatives that ensure sustainable and decent work on platforms. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from date of posting. Email publications@mail.pids.gov.ph.

Citations

This publication has been cited 6 times

In the Media
  1. Bayudan-Dacuycuy, Connie. 2022. Making crowdwork work through skills and training development. Global Dev.
  2. Cortez, Gillian. 2021. WFH needs to be made more inclusive — PIDS. BusinessWorld.
  3. Gonzales, Anna Leah. 2021. Women more inclined to work online – study. Manila Times.
  4. Newsbytes. 2021. Gov’t urged to improve workers’ skills, social protection to bridge gaps in online work. NewsBytes.
  5. Newsbytes PH . 2021. Study suggests ways to bridge gender gaps in platform work. Newsbytes Philippiens.
  6. Tabuga, Aubrey, Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy, and Stefan Belabed . 2021. How inclusive is the digital platform economy for Filipino women?. Connected2Work.


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