Digital Organisation and Society Research Centre (DOS) One-Day Workshop

Over the past decade, digital labour platforms of various forms have emerged in both the global North and the global South. These platforms have transformed how work is being performed, organised and transacted online and offline. This one-day workshop brings together researchers and platform workers to discuss the changing labour relations and the livelihood of workers on various digital platforms in different countries and regions. We hope that, through sharing our latest research, the workshop will provide a state-of-the-art, global view of platform work as well as create a network for future collaborations.

9:30 – 10:00 Arrival and coffee

10:00 – 11:20 Panel #1 Platform work and labour relations in global contexts

Panel members: Julie Chen (Leicester), Abigail Hunt (Overseas Development Institute), Ravishankar M.N. (Loughborough), Alex Wood (OII)

The panellists present their latest work on digital labour platforms in different regions and discuss commonalities and variances in terms of employment precarity and economic opportunities for workers. Guiding questions may include:

• How does platform work vary in global North and global South countries in terms of work type, workforce composition, and economic benefits and opportunities?
• How does platform work impact opportunities, wellbeing and sustainable livelihood of platform workers?
• How are labour relations changing and how are the changes influenced by stakeholders’ power dynamics?

11:20 – 11:40 Coffee Break

11:40 – 13:00 Panel #2 Algorithm, platform design, and agency in digital labour

Panel members: Adam Badger (RHUL), Tom Harrington-Roberts (IWGB), Jamie Woodcock (OII), Philip Wu (RHUL)  

The panelists present their work and discuss the interaction between digital platforms and workers. Questions guiding the panel discussion may include:

• How is managerial control embedded in the design of platform technologies, especially in algorithms and rating systems?
• How does technology shape the bodily and emotional labour of platform work?
• What are the coping mechanisms and learning practices of platform workers?

13:00 – 14:15 Lunch Break

14:15 – 15:30 Roundtable Discussion of potential collaborative projects

15:30 – 16:00 Conclusion & Departure

For more information, please contact the workshop organisers Dr Yingqin Zheng or Dr Philip Wu.

Eventbrite registration required.