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Informalization in gig food delivery in the UK: The case of hyper‐flexible and precarious work

Author

Listed:
  • Pedro Mendonça
  • Nadia K. Kougiannou
  • Ian Clark

Abstract

This article examines the process of informalization of work in platform food delivery work in the UK. Drawing on qualitative data, this article provides new analytical insight into what drives individual formal couriers to both supply and demand informalized sub‐contracted gig work to undocumented migrants, and how a platform company enables informal work practices through permissive HR practices and technology. In doing so, this article shows how platform companies are enablers of informal labor markets and contribute to the expansion of hyper‐precarious working conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Mendonça & Nadia K. Kougiannou & Ian Clark, 2023. "Informalization in gig food delivery in the UK: The case of hyper‐flexible and precarious work," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 60-77, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indres:v:62:y:2023:i:1:p:60-77
    DOI: 10.1111/irel.12320
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nikolaus Hammer & Réka Plugor, 2019. "Disconnecting Labour? The Labour Process in the UK Fast Fashion Value Chain," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(6), pages 913-928, December.
    2. Ian Clark & Trevor Colling, 2018. "Work in Britain's Informal Economy: Learning from Road†Side Hand Car Washes," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(2), pages 320-341, June.
    3. Saskia Sassen, 2009. "Cities Today: A New Frontier for Major Developments," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 626(1), pages 53-71, November.
    4. Gabriella Cioce & Ian Clark & James Hunter, 2022. "How does informalisation encourage or inhibit collective action by migrant workers? A comparative analysis of logistics warehouses in Italy and hand car washes in Britain," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 126-141, March.
    5. Dubois, Anna & Gadde, Lars-Erik, 2002. "Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 553-560, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Iveta Ķešāne & Maija Spuriņa, 2024. "Sociological Types of Precarity Among Gig Workers: Lived Experiences of Food Delivery Workers in Riga," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.
    2. Meredith Dedema & Howard Rosenbaum, 2024. "Socio‐technical issues in the platform‐mediated gig economy: A systematic literature review: An Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) paper," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 75(3), pages 344-374, March.
    3. Binyi Yang, 2024. "Balancing flexibility and stability: The role of outsourced service stations in managing food‐delivery platform work in China," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(4), pages 530-551, October.
    4. Caleb Goods & Alex Veen & Tom Barratt & Brett Smith, 2024. "Power resources for disempowered workers? Re‐conceptualizing the power and potential of consumers in app‐based food delivery," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(2), pages 107-131, April.
    5. Cosmin Popan, 2024. "The fragile ‘art’ of multi-apping: Resilience and snapping in the gig economy," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 56(3), pages 802-815, May.

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