Platform work has become a prevalent form of employment in the European Union, with a significant number of migrant workers engaging in this type of work. While it is often portrayed as a stepping-stone for migrants to enter the labor market, the reality may not be as benign as it seems.
A recent study by the European Trade Union Institute sheds light on the role of the platform economy in providing employment opportunities for migrant workers. It reveals that migrants, particularly those without the right to work or who have recently arrived, are over-represented in the more precarious segments of the platform economy, such as care, cleaning, ride-hailing, and food delivery. This over-representation is mainly driven by third-country migrants from outside the EU, with migrants born in North America, Australia, Asia, and Central and South America being the most prevalent in platform work.
The study also highlights that migrants who are not otherwise employed are more likely to engage in platform work, indicating that they may be turning to this type of work out of necessity rather than choice. This could be due to regulatory hurdles, social network disadvantages, discrimination, and lack of other opportunities in the traditional labor market.
Interestingly, the study shows that migrants with tertiary education, including those with university degrees, are more likely to engage in platform work. This suggests that even highly educated migrants may face challenges in finding suitable jobs at their level of qualifications, leading them to turn to platform work as a means of earning a living.
While the average earnings of migrant platform workers are comparable to those of non-migrant platform workers, migrants are more likely to work through multiple platforms simultaneously, indicating a higher level of economic dependency on this type of work. This raises concerns about potential exploitation and the long-term effects on labor market integration and prospects for migrant workers.
It is essential to recognize that platform work should not be equated with migrants, as the majority of the platform workforce is not of migrant origin. However, the prevalence of migrants in platform work highlights underlying issues in the labor market, such as limited job opportunities and discrimination, that need to be addressed to prevent exploitation and ensure fair working conditions for all workers.
In conclusion, platform work can serve as a symptom of labor market integration problems for migrants who face barriers to finding suitable employment in the traditional economy. It is crucial to ensure that platforms do not enable or reproduce conditions for the exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers and to implement regulations that protect the rights and well-being of all workers, regardless of their background.
