THE problems of the gig economy are showing at a macroeconomic level ("More jobs but little growth is forecast", The Herald, January 24) but let’s consider two other aspects.
Gig workers are treated as disposable, interchangeable commodities and have less upward connection with people in the companies that they work for. It may be the most dehumanised mode of employer-employee relationship possible.
The nature of gig work tends to be discrete and this makes the work vulnerable to automation. Uber works on autonomous vehicles, Amazon increases the use of robots in warehousing and some speculate on the use of drones for food delivery.
Loading article content
Governmental level discussion and planning should occur in advance rather than reacting to the fall-out.
Tom Walker,
39i Fountain Place, Loanhead, Midlothian.