Shaping the 2020s: Symposium and paper series for Workers' Future in Asia

The symposium also featured the presentation of the report on mapping trade unions’ use of online communication and education tools in the time of the pandemic. It highlighted the unexpected shift that trade unions have had to make to digital platforms to build solidarity and the challenges they face in this transition along with some

The research paper series: Shaping the Future of Workers in Asia

The interest in these topics led us to extend the project to a short spin-off focus series on the future of workers in the platform economies of Asia.

In the first publication about collective bargaining on digital platforms and data stewardship, Astha Kapoor provided a spot-on description of the problems workers in the digital economy face today. Building on this analysis, they also developed models that allow workers to develop structures to increase digital self-determination and support bargaining in a data-driven economy.

In the second study, Ambika Tandon and Aayush Rathi assessed the difficult situation and the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on domestic workers in South and Southeast Asia. In this study of digital platforms for care work in the region, the two authors analyse different types of platforms including their recruitment strategies, relationships with employers and workers, and levels of protection at the workplace. The detailed study reveals that the models are more diverse and complex than the uberization model, which usually dominates discussions on the platform economy. This regional and holistic publication concludes with policy and design recommendations for governments and platforms to support the development of fairer working conditions for care workers.

In the third paper, Mohammad Tareq Hasan shared first-hand experiences of platform economy workers in Bangladesh. Dozens of in-depth interviews with ride-hailing and delivery drivers formed the basis for his analysis of the shortcomings of the current work environment for gig-workers. After comparing Bangladesh’s situation with the legal frameworks in four other South Asian countries, this study concluded with twelve policy recommendations for decision makers to achieve a more just environment for blue-collar workers in the future.

FES thanks all the speakers and authors for their insightful papers and exciting presentations which will help lead the way to a more just future of workers in Asia.