The present and future of precarious work for app-based workers

Abstract: In the struggle for survival, millions of people submit to deregulated and informal work. Taking advantage of this, app-based companies have attracted growing numbers of workers under the fallacy of entrepreneurship. The current study aimed to describe the biosocial profile of these workers, the work process, and forms of company control, besides analyzing the principal and emerging aspects in the respective participants. This is a scoping study in which data collection was oriented by the question, “What has been produced in the scientific literature on the profile and risks of app-based work?” from 2014 to 2020. Content analysis revealed thematic dimensions: the growth of apps in Brazil and worker relations; the profile of app-based workers; and their work exposure and demands for working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The professional dynamic of app-based workers is marked by subordination, domination, and exhaustion. The fact that their employment relationship is not acknowledged does not deprive them of rights, dignity, and quality of life in the workplace. Spontaneous organization without trade union intermediation in this category of workers, backing a common agenda of demands to be discussed with other representatives of society, denotes the high degree of exploitation and precariousness and could suggest the path for app companies to adopt the principles of dignified, decent work.

摘要：在生存博弈中，数以百万计的民众投身于去监管化的非正规就业。借此契机，应用程序平台企业（app-based companies）以创业幻象为幌子，吸纳了日益增多的从业者。本研究旨在刻画这类从业者的生物社会特征、工作流程以及企业管控形式，同时分析受访参与者所呈现的核心与新兴议题。本研究为范围综述研究，数据收集以“2014至2020年间，有关应用程序平台工作（app-based work）的特征与风险的科学文献已产出哪些内容？”这一问题为导向。通过内容分析法，本研究提炼出三大主题维度：巴西应用程序平台的发展与从业者关系、应用程序平台从业者的群体特征，以及新冠疫情期间从业者的职业暴露与工作条件诉求。应用程序平台从业者的职业生态以从属地位、支配操控与身心耗竭为显著特征。尽管这类群体的雇佣关系未获认可，但这并未剥夺他们在职场中应享有的权利、尊严与生活品质。该群体自发组建组织且未借助工会中介，秉持共同诉求议程并呼吁与其他社会代表展开对话，这一现状既凸显了极高程度的剥削与就业不稳定性，也为应用程序平台企业践行体面、有尊严的劳动原则指明了方向。