Platform Work and Precarious Citizenship: Lived Experiences of Urban Gig Workers in Emerging Economies

Abstract

Digital labour platforms have expanded across emerging urban economies, yet their effects on workers’ security, rights, and social inclusion remain insufficiently examined. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how platform-mediated employment shapes the lived experiences and citizenship conditions of urban gig workers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 workers aged 21–48 years across food delivery, ride-hailing, courier, domestic service, and other location-based platforms. The sample included 22 migrants and 14 long-term city residents. Reflexive thematic analysis identified five interconnected themes: economic instability, algorithmic control, occupational and spatial vulnerability, limited social protection, and conditional urban belonging. Participants described irregular earnings, unpaid waiting time, rising work-related expenses, opaque task allocation, rating-based penalties, account-deactivation risks, physical strain, traffic hazards, extreme-weather exposure, and inadequate access to basic urban facilities. Most lacked paid leave, health insurance, accident compensation, pension benefits, and income protection during illness. Migrants and women faced additional vulnerabilities related to documentation, insecure housing, harassment, unsafe neighbourhoods, and restricted welfare access. Informal worker networks provided practical and emotional support but exerted limited influence over platform policies. The findings demonstrate that platform work enables economic participation without ensuring secure employment, institutional recognition, or equitable urban membership. Transparent algorithmic governance, portable social protection, accessible grievance systems, safer urban infrastructure, and stronger collective representation are required to reduce precarious citizenship among gig workers.