Human Rights Watch Calls for Binding Rules on Algorithmic Management of Gig Workers

Human Rights Watch, in a commentary tied to the World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok and the Global AI and Digital Summit in Seoul, argues that binding rules are needed for algorithmic management of gig workers. It notes the Bank is promoting AI as a source of more and better jobs, and says platform workers show what is at stake because algorithms, including AI systems, already act as their bosses.

The organization reports research in the United States finding that large companies use opaque, frequently changing algorithms to set pay, so workers cannot work out how earnings are calculated. Customer ratings influence access to work with little chance to contest scores, and deactivated workers struggle to learn why or reach anyone able to reverse the decision. It also says companies treat workers as independent contractors, as Uber does in the more than 70 countries where it operates, so they lack guaranteed minimum pay and employer social insurance payments. Research across Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, the UK, Kenya, India and the Gulf found similar patterns, including sharp daily swings in income and expenses sometimes above earnings.

HRW points to the platform economy convention (No. 193, on decent work), adopted in June at the International Labour Conference by 406 votes to 8, as the first binding international labor standard covering algorithmic management. It gives workers the right to request written explanations of significant automated decisions, review with human involvement when pay or access is cut, safeguards on pay and safety, and correct classification of employment based on how work is done. HRW urges governments to ratify and implement it with worker participation, and asks the World Bank to support enforcement.