Most of the gig work stuff everywhere will earn less than minimum wage in most areas (where minimum wage is reasonable at least). The only benefit is that there’s basically no skill required, just get a thing (person/food/whatever) and take it somewhere, and you can basically work whatever hours you want; you’re and independent contractor for all intents and purposes.
So if a person has the ability to pick things up, carry them short distances and put them down, plus the ability to transport yourself from place to place, usually via a car, and having a driver’s license, then you can do most of the modern gig work. Whether transporting people or food/whatever… Knowing English isn’t even a requirement even if you’re working in a predominantly English speaking country.
It’s essentially perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the skills or knowledge to do much of anything yet. Not to disparage people that work the job, but everyone should already have these skills with the possible exception of having a driver’s license. Even a “McJob” or similar will require a basic conversational English (or other native language) understanding.
Don’t get me wrong, knowing the language helps, but it’s not a requirement. Translations are pretty good these days, so you can get by without really knowing anything of the language, as long as you can translate stuff to whatever language you speak, you’re all set.
In this way, the “jobs” tend to attract people of a certain type, immigrants are particularly prone to being taken in by it and immigrants have the least agency in the society they live in… At least until they become full citizens of the country they find themselves in.
It’s both unsurprising and sad that it’s happening, but there’s pretty much nothing that most people can do about it. If you boycott the services then those that would need that income will go without. So, is it better to get screwed, but still get something, or not get screwed, and get nothing?
Most of the gig work stuff everywhere will earn less than minimum wage in most areas (where minimum wage is reasonable at least). The only benefit is that there’s basically no skill required, just get a thing (person/food/whatever) and take it somewhere, and you can basically work whatever hours you want; you’re and independent contractor for all intents and purposes.
So if a person has the ability to pick things up, carry them short distances and put them down, plus the ability to transport yourself from place to place, usually via a car, and having a driver’s license, then you can do most of the modern gig work. Whether transporting people or food/whatever… Knowing English isn’t even a requirement even if you’re working in a predominantly English speaking country.
It’s essentially perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the skills or knowledge to do much of anything yet. Not to disparage people that work the job, but everyone should already have these skills with the possible exception of having a driver’s license. Even a “McJob” or similar will require a basic conversational English (or other native language) understanding.
Don’t get me wrong, knowing the language helps, but it’s not a requirement. Translations are pretty good these days, so you can get by without really knowing anything of the language, as long as you can translate stuff to whatever language you speak, you’re all set.
In this way, the “jobs” tend to attract people of a certain type, immigrants are particularly prone to being taken in by it and immigrants have the least agency in the society they live in… At least until they become full citizens of the country they find themselves in.
It’s both unsurprising and sad that it’s happening, but there’s pretty much nothing that most people can do about it. If you boycott the services then those that would need that income will go without. So, is it better to get screwed, but still get something, or not get screwed, and get nothing?