Prof Richard Boateng
THE FAIRWORK Project has initiated conversations on how to address the challenges facing people who work via digital platforms.
According to Fairwork, such workers should earn decent working conditions from their employers.
Fairwork is an International Research project that evaluates working conditions on digital labour platforms and is operating in 26 countries across 5 continents in 6 African countries.
Project lead, Prof. Richard Boateng, at a virtual stakeholders’ workshop, said the objective of the engagement was to drive policy and engage platforms that employ the services of these workers through virtual means.
“Policy from government should also be instructive on issues relating contracts, representation, conditions and management. Government should be up to speed in understanding and releasing workable regulations on the current unfavourable bias in working conditions,” he said.
Some of the workers also expressed worry over the low security provided them during business hours adding that issues of safety should bead dressed.
“Workers’ lives are at risk, and they need a mechanism to reach out for help when in need. “Also, all parties on platforms should be readily identifiable by other platform members. Safety conditions should also be gender sensitive especially women’s peculiar security needs concerning harassment and discrimination.”
The workshop is part of a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders geared towards improving the working conditions of digital workers in Ghana.
The Fairwork Ghana project evaluates the working conditions of digital labour platforms against five global principles of Fairwork, including fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation. Platforms operating in Ghana (e.g. Uber, Bolt, Bolt Food, Yango, Black Ride, Swift Wheel, IFerch, Eziban, Jumia Food and Glovo) are scored against all five principles to assess whether they provide basic labour standards like minimum wage or protection against accidents.
The project is hosted by the University of Ghana’s Business School and implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the University of Witswatersrand, South Africa.
BY Ebenezer K. Amponsah