Gig Economy and Market Design. Why to regulate the market of jobs carried out through digital platforms

Abstract

The most recent studies have focused on the classification of the working activities carried out by the so-called “riders”, differentiating between self-employment and employment, suggesting the reintroduction of other types of working arrangements (so-called “quasi-subordinate” or “coordinated” employment), or pointing to the inadequacy of domestic legal frameworks in enforcing protection in relation to wage, working time, monitoring, union freedoms and strike. The present essay is centred on another issue: it is assumed that the jobs carried out through digital platforms – in the specific case of working activities performed for Gig Economy companies delivering goods or providing services to individuals and households – fall under temporary agency work as per the Italian Laws nos. 81 dated 15 June 2015 and 276 dated 10 September 2003.