This study examines gig workers’ collective mobilization and policy responses through historical, geographical, and institutional perspectives. Analyzing diverse global outcomes, it explores labor rights advancements and challenges across welfare state types. Findings highlight the role of labor movements in shaping legal protections amid persistent corporate resistance and regulatory gaps.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
Critically analyze the historical trajectory of gig workers' collective movements, identifying key legal battles, policy shifts, and the role of grassroots organizations in shaping labor rights.
Assess the strategic role of social workers in labor advocacy, exploring how social welfare policies can be leveraged to empower precarious workers and influence policymaking at local, national, and transnational levels.
Compare and contrast how different welfare state models—liberal, conservative, and social democratic—have responded to gig workers’ demands, highlighting whether Esping-Andersen's model remains valid for analyzing the formation process of new labor policies.
