Fair Work and the Gig Economy

The gig economy is made up of workers who are engaged in temporary, flexible or freelance work and are paid per ‘gig’ or job that they complete. This covers a wide variety of roles such as delivery riders, couriers, tutors, private hire drivers, carers and freelance graphic designers. The gig economy is an important and growing part of Edinburgh’s economy.

Working in the gig economy can offer benefits such as increased flexibility and control over working hours. However, it is widely recognised that gig economy workers also experience challenges such as low pay, insecure and unpredictable work, and challenging working environments. On top of this, gig economy workers are classified as ‘self-employed’ and as a result, they do not have access to the same employment rights and protections as those who are classified as ‘employees’ such as sick pay, parental leave, or protection against unfair dismissal.

Work is ongoing across Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK, to reduce in-work poverty and grow a fair work movement. This is taking place through legislation such as the UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill, policies such as the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy, and local approaches such as the Edinburgh Fair Work Charter. It is critical that this work prioritises the needs of gig workers, particularly as their employment status puts them in a more vulnerable position. 

In Edinburgh, the Workers’ Observatory has been working with delivery riders to understand the local gig economy and advocate for improved working conditions. Work such as this is vital to make sure that legislation and policy is directly influenced by the voices and experiences of workers. Through the Workers’ Observatory, delivery riders have shared their experiences and offered evidence to inform the development of the Edinburgh Fair Work Charter. The Edinburgh Fair Work Action Group has previously collaborated with the Workers’ Observatory and will continue to learn from their work to make sure that Edinburgh is a fair work city for all.