Lobbies: Protect rights of digital platform workers

Human rights organisations have raised concerns over the absence of a clear and comprehensive framework to protect the plight of digital workers.

At least five lobby groups said although digital platform presents an emerging and important aspect of the future of work, the rapid transformations in the labour marketplace are happening in a context that lacks proper regulatory frameworks and weak enforcement mechanisms.

Led by Siasa Place Executive Director, Nerima Wako, the groups said there is no framework to ensure the transitions do not harm the rights of parties involved, and that businesses do not violate the labour and related human rights of workers in their countries of operation.

“Questions remain about how to ensure a safe, empowering and dignifying work environment for digital platform workers including fair compensation and equal pay for equal work, labour mobility across countries and new dynamics about the treatment of digital workers,” Wako said in a joint statement.

Groups included Siasa Place, Kenya Human Rights Commission , Youth Agenda, Kariobangi Social Justice Centre and Social Justice Center Working Group.