Workers’ power and platform capitalism : the embryo towards an alternative

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been an expansion of digital platforms that has reshaped the world of work by introducing platform work. Most of the studies on gig work – platform work – focus on the global North. While there is growing evidence in developing countries, the research on how platform workers in Africa are responding to the platform economy is quite limited. Although platform work is based on freedom and autonomy to work, our research among food courier riders in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya found that this new work order is deepening worker insecurity and undermines worker right. We argue that technology allows platform workers an avenue to bargain for their labour rights, thus contributing to the emergence of self-organised, hybrid forms of union-like associations – associational power – and new partnerships with traditional unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – societal power. This provides platform workers with the ability to develop collective solidarity and engage in strike action. Ultimately, the rise of the gig economy has led to a new social force which can replace the old one, as evident from the recent upsurge in labour struggles in the platform economy globally as well as in the global South.