Gig Economy: Building a more Conducive Ecosystem for African Gig Workers in 2023
It is important for all stakeholders to prioritize the gig economy and develop better ways to support gig workers’ livelihoods, as well as their financial and professional development. When this is done, the challenge of unemployment in Africa will be addressed, and it will promote economic growth.
In the recent years, a new market has sprung up for gig workers with a mid-skill level in tasks like telephoning, information and data analysis, etc. In addition, given the advantages of flexibility, work-life balance, and autonomy the gig economy offers, there has been a substantial increase in high-skill gig expertise. Gig economy expansion has essentially been facilitated by enterprises that have integrated the gig model and continue to look into various forms of “gigification,” in as well as technological usage and dynamic labor patterns.
It is everyone’s responsibility to collaborate to create an ecosystem that is more advantageous to the growth and potential of gig workers now that Africa’s gig economy has gained some traction. More than simply system criteria are needed to create a more favorable ecosystem; instead, information and services must be “seperated from the pile.” This would entail integrating gig platforms, related services, and policy initiatives in order to develop substantial livelihoods and economic opportunities on a bigger scale and hence support Africa’s economic and social development.
The primary priorities of gig workers are transparent compensation, scheduling flexibility, the certainty of continuing work, skill building, and non-monetary perks. While technology is making it possible for clear payrolling and increasing marketplace demand to guarantee regular work, gig platforms must take steps to ensure on-the-job training, feedback, and constant skills enhancement on their platforms. This can assist gig workers in discovering new possibilities, maximizing their growth prospects, and increasing their earnings. The government can also establish a centralized platform to monitor the gig workers’ career stability, from professional growth to employment availability. The acquisition and deployment of gig workers will be made even better due to this integrated strategy.
The isolation of gig workers is another important issue that has to be addressed. Given the autonomous and independent nature of their employment, many gig workers frequently experience a sense of isolation. Stakeholders can work together to substantially resolve this problem by establishing networks in order to strengthen the resilience of gig workers. Networks, whether digital or otherwise, that offer guidance, advice, and assistance can make gig workers feel more a part of a community and give them psychological sturdiness — designing a space that is friendly to high-skill gig workers calls for a strong focus. The gig ecosystem will be strengthened by offering people better possibilities, consistent work (solved by demand/adoption by businesses), social stability, and incentives.
To ensure that workers participate more actively and are happier in the gig economy, it is now necessary to prioritize and implement labor laws. By putting these standards into action, gig workers could have access to health, accident, and maternity benefits, and old age protection, which provides an additional layer of security. Implementing labor laws will act as an incentive, which will strengthen the transition from supplementary to primary income generation and contribute to addressing the attrition situation in the gig economy. Concern over gig workers who put their pay above all else is one issue with the system of social security. The significance of these non-monetary benefits is still not fully exploited by many gig workers. In this case, it is our duty to provide information. Concrete steps must be taken by the industry to inform them of the long-term benefits and wealth creation enabled by these benefits.
In order to promote greater livelihood prospects, financial stability, and professional advancement for gig workers, it is crucial for all stakeholders to prioritize the gig ecosystem. Maintaining the demand-supply pipeline will help Africa combat its unemployment problem and promote economic expansion.
