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Work and Labour Relations in Global Platform Capitalism
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This engaging and timely book provides an in-depth analysis of work and labour relations within global platform capitalism with a specific focus on digital platforms that organise labour processes, known as labour platforms. Well-respected contributors thoroughly examine both online and offline platforms, their distinct differences and the important roles they play for both large transnational companies and those with a smaller global reach.
This engaging and timely book provides an in-depth analysis of work and labour relations within global platform capitalism with a specific focus on digital platforms that organise labour processes, known as labour platforms. Well-respected contributors thoroughly examine both online and offline platforms, their distinct differences and the important roles they play for both large transnational companies and those with a smaller global reach.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
This engaging and timely book provides an in-depth analysis of work and labour relations within global platform capitalism with a specific focus on digital platforms that organise labour processes, known as labour platforms. Well-respected contributors thoroughly examine both online and offline platforms, their distinct differences and the important roles they play for both large transnational companies and those with a smaller global reach.
Chapters explore how labour platforms have become controversial and ambiguous as they increasingly appear to provide important sources of work and income globally but conversely raise concerns over exploitation of workers and the lack of legal protection provided to them. Offering a global perspective and including studies from different continents, the book covers three key areas: platform work in the wider context of contemporary capitalism, labour platforms from an international division of labour perspective, and labour processes and relations.
This informative and thought-provoking book is an excellent resource for scholars with a particular interest in political economy, the sociology of work, labour relations and labour policies. Policymakers and regulators looking to understand how to effectively apply existing regulations for platform workers when creating new business models will also find this an invigorating read.
Chapters explore how labour platforms have become controversial and ambiguous as they increasingly appear to provide important sources of work and income globally but conversely raise concerns over exploitation of workers and the lack of legal protection provided to them. Offering a global perspective and including studies from different continents, the book covers three key areas: platform work in the wider context of contemporary capitalism, labour platforms from an international division of labour perspective, and labour processes and relations.
This informative and thought-provoking book is an excellent resource for scholars with a particular interest in political economy, the sociology of work, labour relations and labour policies. Policymakers and regulators looking to understand how to effectively apply existing regulations for platform workers when creating new business models will also find this an invigorating read.
Critical Acclaim
‘I highly recommend this book to those who have already stepped into the terrain of understanding the platform economy, those who are just taking that step, and those who have not yet begun but are willing to do so. Why? Because this is one of the few existing books that offers a rich, critical, fresh, and contemporary analysis of the platform economy embedded into capital and capitalism worldwide. It reveals what global platform capitalism entails by uncovering its internal social, economic, and political contradictions and tensions from a much-needed critical standpoint.’
– Valeria Pulignano, ILR Review
‘With this edited collection of insightful chapters, Julieta Haidar and Maarten Keune capture the essence of the “contradictions” and “tensions” surrounding the emergence of work and labor relations within the platform economy. This collection memorably illustrates how hegemonic capitalism generates “social order” by re-producing cleavages through establishing new socio-economic and political interdependencies on a global basis. This is a “must” for everyone who wants to learn about the platform economy.’
– Valeria Pulignano, University of Leuven, Belgium
‘In the 21st century we are witnessing what seems to be a paradox. On the one hand, we have an expansion of algorithms and artificial intelligence generating companies that are increasingly wealthy. On the other, there is a new growing portion of the working class who find themselves in an increasingly precarious position and without basic labour rights. How does exploitation in platform capitalism take place? What is new and what is old in these labour relations? How does managerial control occur? And how will the struggles and resistance of this new proletariat of the digital age develop? To better comprehend this complex social phenomenon, this book offers an important contribution.’
– Ricardo Antunes, University of Campinas, Brazil
– Valeria Pulignano, ILR Review
‘With this edited collection of insightful chapters, Julieta Haidar and Maarten Keune capture the essence of the “contradictions” and “tensions” surrounding the emergence of work and labor relations within the platform economy. This collection memorably illustrates how hegemonic capitalism generates “social order” by re-producing cleavages through establishing new socio-economic and political interdependencies on a global basis. This is a “must” for everyone who wants to learn about the platform economy.’
– Valeria Pulignano, University of Leuven, Belgium
‘In the 21st century we are witnessing what seems to be a paradox. On the one hand, we have an expansion of algorithms and artificial intelligence generating companies that are increasingly wealthy. On the other, there is a new growing portion of the working class who find themselves in an increasingly precarious position and without basic labour rights. How does exploitation in platform capitalism take place? What is new and what is old in these labour relations? How does managerial control occur? And how will the struggles and resistance of this new proletariat of the digital age develop? To better comprehend this complex social phenomenon, this book offers an important contribution.’
– Ricardo Antunes, University of Campinas, Brazil
Contributors
Contributors: C. Arias, H. Barnard, G. Bensusán, J. Berg, P. D’Cruz, M. Graham, J. Haidar, I. Hjorth, S. Joyce, M. Keune, V. Lehdonvirta, W.-F. Leung, P. Marčeta, N.D. Menéndez, E. Noronha, U. Rani, H. Santos, N. Srnicek, M. Stuart, K. Vandaele, M. Zukerfeld
Contents
Contents:
Introduction to Work and Labour Relations in Global Platform
Capitalism 1
Julieta Haidar and Maarten Keune
PART I PLATFORM LABOUR IN CONTEMPORARY
CAPITALISM
1 Value, rent and platform capitalism 29
Nick Srnicek
2 Platforms and exploitation in informational capitalism 46
Mariano Zukerfeld
3 Platform capitalism – towards the neo-commodification of
labour? 69
Petar Marčeta
PART II LABOUR PLATFORMS BETWEEN THE
GLOBAL AND THE LOCAL
4 Working conditions, geography and gender in global crowdwork 93
Janine Berg and Uma Rani
5 Global earnings dispaities in remote platform work:
liabilities of origin? 111
Vili Lehdonvirta, Isis Hjorth, Helena Barnard and Mark Graham
6 Freelancing globally: upworkers in China and India,
neo-liberalisation and the new international putting-out
system of labour (NIPL) 133
Wing-Fai Leung, Premilla D’Cruz and Ernesto Noronha
PART III LABOUR PROCESS AND LABOUR
RELATIONS IN PLATFORM CAPITALISM
7 Digitalized management, control and resistance in platform
work: a labour process analysis 157
Simon Joyce and Mark Stuart
8 Collective organization in platform companies in
Argentina: between labour union traditions and adaptive strategies 184
Cora Arias, Nicolás Diana Menéndez and Julieta Haidar
9 Collective resistance and organizational creativity amongst
Europe’s platform workers: a new power in the labour
movement? 205
Kurt Vandaele
10 Digital platform work in Latin America: challenges and
perspectives for its regulation 235
Graciela Bensusán and Héctor Santos
Index
Introduction to Work and Labour Relations in Global Platform
Capitalism 1
Julieta Haidar and Maarten Keune
PART I PLATFORM LABOUR IN CONTEMPORARY
CAPITALISM
1 Value, rent and platform capitalism 29
Nick Srnicek
2 Platforms and exploitation in informational capitalism 46
Mariano Zukerfeld
3 Platform capitalism – towards the neo-commodification of
labour? 69
Petar Marčeta
PART II LABOUR PLATFORMS BETWEEN THE
GLOBAL AND THE LOCAL
4 Working conditions, geography and gender in global crowdwork 93
Janine Berg and Uma Rani
5 Global earnings dispaities in remote platform work:
liabilities of origin? 111
Vili Lehdonvirta, Isis Hjorth, Helena Barnard and Mark Graham
6 Freelancing globally: upworkers in China and India,
neo-liberalisation and the new international putting-out
system of labour (NIPL) 133
Wing-Fai Leung, Premilla D’Cruz and Ernesto Noronha
PART III LABOUR PROCESS AND LABOUR
RELATIONS IN PLATFORM CAPITALISM
7 Digitalized management, control and resistance in platform
work: a labour process analysis 157
Simon Joyce and Mark Stuart
8 Collective organization in platform companies in
Argentina: between labour union traditions and adaptive strategies 184
Cora Arias, Nicolás Diana Menéndez and Julieta Haidar
9 Collective resistance and organizational creativity amongst
Europe’s platform workers: a new power in the labour
movement? 205
Kurt Vandaele
10 Digital platform work in Latin America: challenges and
perspectives for its regulation 235
Graciela Bensusán and Héctor Santos
Index
