Is platform work migrant work? The economic and social conditions behind migrant (over-)representation in the platform economy across Europe.

This article investigates the over-representation of migrant workers in the platform economy across 14 European Union Member States, using representative survey data from the 2021 European Trade Union Institute Internet and Platform Work Survey (IPWS) and complementary EU Labour Force Survey statist...

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Publicado en:International Labour Review Vol. 165; no. 1; pp. 1 - 23
Autores principales: Piasna, Agnieszka, Zwysen, Wouter
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Open Library of Humanities 2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Is platform work migrant work? The economic and social conditions behind migrant (over-)representation in the platform economy across Europe.
      aug:
        au:
          Piasna, Agnieszka
          Zwysen, Wouter
        affil:
          European Trade Union Institute and Centre for Sociological Research (CeSO), KU Leuven
          European Trade Union Institute and Research Institute for Work and Society (HIVA), KU Leuven
      su:
        Europe
        European Union
        Migrant labor
        Labor market
        Labor laws
        Labor supply
        Social marginality
        Electronic commerce
        Sharing economy
      sug:
        subj:
          Migrant labor
          Labor market
          Labor laws
          Labor supply
          Social marginality
          Electronic commerce
          Europe
          European Union
          Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors
          Temporary Help Services
          Electronic Shopping
          Electronic shopping and mail-order houses
          Sharing economy
      keyword:
        digital economy
        digital labour platforms
        discrimination
        EU Member States
        migrant workers
        platform workers
        digital economy
        digital labour platforms
        discrimination
        EU Member States
        migrant workers
        platform workers
      ab: This article investigates the over-representation of migrant workers in the platform economy across 14 European Union Member States, using representative survey data from the 2021 European Trade Union Institute Internet and Platform Work Survey (IPWS) and complementary EU Labour Force Survey statistics. It finds that migrants are about 20% more likely than non-migrants to engage in platform work, particularly in location-based transport and delivery services, though nearly half of this difference is explained by migrants’ socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education, and employment status. The study highlights that migrants who are more vulnerable—especially those without traditional employment, with higher education facing recognition barriers, or belonging to groups experiencing greater labour market penalties—are more likely to participate in platform work, which often serves as an alternative due to limited access to decent jobs in the traditional economy. The findings suggest that platform work’s relatively lower entry barriers compared to conventional employment attract migrants but may also contribute to their long-term labour market disadvantage and social exclusion. The article emphasizes the need for integrated policy approaches addressing labour standards both in traditional and platform economies to protect vulnerable workers, including migrants.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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