Introduction The recent growth of the platform economy as
the formalisation effect of platforms and how it
a tool for labour exchanges has brought about
is experienced by workers: this being a superior
concerns on the overall quality of jobs created.
alternative, a precarious movement or a line of
This article focuses on a particular line of
continuity with respect to previous experience.
enquiry
that
-
although
being
scarcely
On the other hand, regardless of what this
explored in empirical terms - has already
transition may represent for workers, it also
raised some debate. What are the effects of
seems pertinent to explore the effects of
the expansion of platform-based labour in occupations
and
countries
where
registration generated via platforms in terms
job
of effective working conditions experienced.
informality is extended? Can working through a digital
platform
registration
in
indeed such
increase
contexts?
This implies relativizing the protection that the
labour
Does
formalisation of labour relations in this area
the
may entail in the light of other broader
uberization of labour create opportunities for
indicators
governments to detect and regulate jobs that
compliance
with
security that apply to traditional waged
what extent does this effect vary according to
workers.
the occupation, the context in which it is developed and the different business models
This article aims to analyse this phenomenon
of the platforms in question?
for three on-demand service occupations under the platform modality in the Buenos
Even if platforms can increase formalisation -
Aires Metropolitan Area. These include private
understood throughout this paper in the strict
passengers’ transportation, domestic work
and limited sense of labour registration- , it is
and home repair services. The methodology is
worth asking to what extent this represents an
based on a quali-quantitative approach: 60 in-
improvement in the occupational conditions of
depth interviews and a survey of 1050 cases
the workers involved. Given that in most cases
were
(although not in all) formalization promoted by
forms
always
each
representing
occupational
group.
Based on the analysis of these platform
contractors or, in some cases, workers hired non-standard
conducted,
proportionally
platforms refers to registered independent different
address
labour regulations and access to social
would have been otherwise invisible? If so, to
under
that
occupations
of
and
the
different
business’
models they imply, we aim to: i) evaluate to
employment, the levels of effective protection
what
that such figures can guarantee may be
extent
these
platforms
generate
relative.
formalisation of labour relations, taking into
On the one hand, the labour transitions that lie
business models involved, the pre-existing
behind platform workers are an important
dynamics
point of departure to understand on-the-
characteristics of the different labour forces
platform
account the way in which the different
work.
occupational
Considering
situation
of
of
each
occupation
and
the
the
previous
under analysis impact on it; ii) analyse to what
these
workers
extent the situation of formality that can be
provides elements that contribute to evaluate
reached
7
via
platforms
represents
an
