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June 26, 2026Global Social Policy

Risks, rewards and responsibilities: Lessons from South African platform workers for achieving decent work

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Authors

LGLauren GrahamKMKhuliso Matidza

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Overview

Qualitative analysis examines experiences of platform workers in South Africa, highlighting the balance of risk and responsibility.

Key Points

  • This article investigates the experiences of South African platform workers regarding wages, security, and responsibilities.
  • Conducted 19 interviews with location- and web-based platform workers in South Africa.
  • Examined workers' perceptions of their employment relationships and associated risks.
  • Analyzed broader implications for social contract reimagining.
  • Workers generally report positive pay while expressing concerns over risk responsibilities with platforms and the state.
  • Participants see themselves as independent contractors, which challenges traditional views on formalization.
  • The findings suggest alternative social policy approaches to promote decent work in contexts of high unemployment.

Cite This Study

Graham et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3e1670030ad1a9b3090578https://doi.org/10.1177/14680181261457292
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