In The Gig Work Podcast by the WageIndicator Foundation, Martijn Arets talks to Lena Simet from Human Rights Watch about the downsides of platform work and ways to develop effective policy. “Technology for organizing work has developed at lightning speed, but legislation to protect workers’ rights on platforms is hopelessly behind.”

How can we ensure that platform companies in the gig economy behave as responsible employers and clients, rather than greedy intermediaries who make ever-increasing profits and pass the risks and costs of doing business on to workers? Trade unions, labor organizations, and governments around the world are looking for a solution to this problem.

This includes Human Rights Watch, an international organization that investigates human rights violations worldwide. In recent years, senior economic justice advisor Lena Simet has been specifically studying the rights impact and economic fairness of platform companies on workers. I spoke to her about her research on The Gig Work Podcast by the WageIndicator Foundation. Her conclusions provide a good overview of developments and opportunities from a global perspective.