"Gig worker concerns not addressed in current safety net system — PIDS" 12th November, 2024

THE Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said gig workers are not well-served by the current safety nets available to conventional employees, and noted that the segment needs special protections due to income instability.

“We have laws that protect the interests of traditional employees, but not comprehensively address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of our gig workers,” Miraluna S. Tacadao, a division chief with Department of Labor and Employment’s Institute for Labor Studies...

...A separate PIDS report noted that while freelance earnings in the Philippines surged 208% between 2019 and 2020, online workers face significant challenges related to employment security and social benefits.

Ms. Tacadao said that dispute resolution mechanisms are usually available only for those with employer-employee relationships, leaving gig workers without recourse...

...She also raised calls for the collection of accurate data on the gig workforce to inform policy decisions in the absence of reliable government data, which “complicates efforts to understand and regulate this growing sector.”...

...PIDS said those in authority should modernize labor rules and regulations, while safeguarding the needs and interests of the flexible, on-demand workforce.