In the third and final episode of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, titled "The Gig Economy's Hidden Costs", Wits social scientist and researcher Fikile Masikane guides an exploration of the complex realities facing gig workers in the Global South, particularly food courier riders in Africa.
Featuring insights from a study conducted with Edward Webster, Andile Masuku delves into the challenges and contradictions of the gig economy, examining how promises of entrepreneurship and freedom often lead to harsher working conditions and increased precarity.
Key themes:
- Expansion of e-hailing and e-delivery platforms in the Global South
- Promises vs. realities of gig work entrepreneurship
- Impact of profit-driven policies on driver conditions
- Vulnerability of migrant and economically disadvantaged populations
- Contrast between company narratives and worker experiences
- Long-term implications of gig economy practices on labor rights and social equity
Learn more:
Click here to discover the ongoing research and work being conducted in the field of labor studies and inequality by visiting the Wits Southern Centre for Inequality Studies: https://www.wits.ac.za/scis
Production credits:
Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone
Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Written and hosted by Andile Masuku
Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Editorial Note: The Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series is made possible through support from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand. Views expressed by the host and contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of African Tech Roundup or the University of the Witwatersrand. All rights reserved by the University of the Witwatersrand.
