Decent Work, The Gig Economy And The Ghanaian Youth
The employment landscape is changing. It is only worth repeating that technology is permeating every sphere of life and changing the way work has traditionally been defined and undertaken. And this has contributed significantly to the rise and rise of the “gig economy” – the ‘industrial’ name for the activities captured as part-time work or freelancing in contemporary times. In the gig economy, roles or assignments are given out as temporary positions or on a short-term basis. In the UK alone, BBC reports that there are about three million people involved in this type of employment. Its prevalence has for long been overlooked but it does appear to be very extensively used and may be the way of the future, as Prof Jacobs and colleagues from Oxford and Pretoria universities discovered. Besides its precarious short-term nature and the associated insecurities plaguing those involved, the other downside is the is the loss of revenue to the state, for example costing the British government around four billion pounds a year. Being a gig worker has evolved from being only a part-time worker to being a ‘full-time’ part-time worker. Ironical!
A Gig Worker: By Will or By Force
The prominence gained by the gig economy is clearly attributable to the times. On the demand side, employers are constantly seeking cost-effective methods of carrying out tasks to achieve significant outputs. On the supply side, the ‘status’ as a gig worker could be induced or self-imposed.
The induced gig worker is one who, most often than not, has become ‘full-time part-timer’ by compulsion. She has sought solace in the gig economy as a response to her non-engagement with any firm as a permanent, full-time staff (a description that is heading towards extinction). Long periods of unemployment could induce people to resort to the gig economy.
Considering her knowledge, interests and expertise, a niche is created in a specific field(s) for which she could be engaged on a short-term basis. A self-imposed gig worker could be that gig worker who willingly chooses not commit her 9 am-5 pm to any organisation, but will enjoy the flexibility that comes with the gig economy. This opens up new employment conditions in fields such as media, where employment is on an hourly basis or limited time periods that avail extra hours for second and third jobs.
Whether induced or self-imposed, working in the gig economy could be fun, with a fair dose of challenges!
The Good and The Bad
The nature of work is increasingly assuming a tech-dependent, internet-enabled character; a phenomenon that is true in many developed countries and progressively seeping into developing countries. This allows work to be undertaken outside the physical space of ‘work’. Freelancers are able to undertake gigs around the world and not be restricted by visa requirements and costs associated with relocation. For employers, the pool of human resource becomes endless! And they are almost assured of getting the most likely candidate to deliver results to execute assignments.
Unemployment statistics aren’t looking great. The gig economy offers an opportunity for individuals to channel their energies into productive ventures – earning money, gaining much needed work experience and contributing to the world of work. The current reality is that people are likely to change jobs many times throughout their career, and the gig economy allows people to exit the formal labour market and still live pretty comfortably (if not more comfortable). On the side of employers, the gig economy allows businesses to have some functions running, although not by full-time staff but by part-time workers. Businesses can’t be faulted entirely; operation costs can be quite a drain!
In an era where concern for maintaining an optimal work-life balance is perhaps at the highest ever, does the gig economy hold a solution? Gig workers may have a better work-life balance since they can choose what times of their day they can commit to certain tasks, unlike full-time employers who are compelled to keep to a 9am-5pm schedule. Presumably, they could take their rests as they please and could work during the time of the day they deem most productive, an important consideration for nocturnal people who would otherwise struggle in the traditional 9am-5pm shift.
Whilst gig workers may enjoy that kind of flexibility and optimise their work-life balance, employers would also be saving big on office space, utilities, capacity building and of course, personnel benefits!
Truth be told, working in the gig economy can’t be all rosy. There may be dry spells – moments, times, months without active engagement. Those moments could be trying for anyone who does not have consistent income within regular intervals, especially in countries where there are limited or no safety nets.
Gig workers are entitled to payment in return for the service rendered. No benefits! Will working under such conditions qualify to be categorised as ‘decent work’?
