Work and Labour Relations in Global Platform Capitalism: (ILERA Publication series)

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.

Table of 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

About the Author :
Edited by Julieta Haidar, Associate Professor, Workers’ Innovation Centre (UMET-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina and Maarten Keune, Professor of Social Security and Labour Relations, AIAS-HSI, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Review :
‘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.’ ‘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.’ ‘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.’