On June 8, the fourth lecture of the “2021 Series of Lectures on Global Labor Market Flexibilization and Digital Economy Employment Regulation”, organized by the CULR and co-organized by the Labor Relations Branch of Chinese Association of Human Resource Development, was held online. Dr. Uma Rani, Senior Economist in the Research Department of the International Labour Organization, was the keynote speaker and presented on “The Role of Digital Labor Platforms in Changing the World of Work.” Over 210 experts, scholars, and students from inside and outside the CULR attended the online lecture.

During the lecture, Dr. Uma Rani presented the research findings of the flagship report of the International Labour Organization, titled "World Employment and Social Outlook 2021: The Role of Digital Labour Platforms in Transforming the World of Work." Drawing on her extensive research experience, she introduced the rise of digital labor platforms and their business models driven by advancements and penetration of technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. She pointed out that digital labor platforms were mainly based on online web platforms and location-based platforms. In the past decade, the number of platforms globally has grown fivefold, providing new job opportunities for labor groups such as women, persons with disabilities, youth, and migrants. She highlighted the challenges faced by platform workers, including working conditions, income, lack of necessary social protection, collective labor rights, and long and unpredictable working hours. The COVID-19 pandemic further deepened the impact on job opportunities and income of digital labor platform workers, with nine out of ten taxi drivers and seven out of ten delivery workers experiencing reduced demand and income. Algorithmic management was gradually replacing human oversight in the allocation, evaluation, and regulation of platform workers. Dr. Uma Rani emphasized that the distribution of digital labor platform income was uneven across different countries and regions. To provide decent job opportunities, sustainably promote business development, and ensure social equity, governments, trade unions, and platform companies should engage in necessary social dialogue and regulatory cooperation.

In the discussion session, Professor Wu Qingjun, Director of the Department of Labor Relations at the School of Labor and Human Resources of Renmin University of China, stated that the report presented a comprehensive analysis of the global digital economy platform employment situation through extensive data analysis and empirical evidence, offering significant theoretical value and practical guidance. He provided new insights and reflections on the impact of the digital economy on manufacturing development, protection of labor rights, the role of digital economy platforms, and differences in platform employment between developed and developing countries from the perspectives of government, platforms, and workers. During the interactive session, the audience engaged in discussions with Dr. Uma Rani on topics such as differences in labor protection practices in various countries under the digital economy. In his concluding remarks, Professor Qiao Jian, Director of the International Office of Cooperation and Exchange at our university, expressed gratitude for Dr. Uma Rani's excellent lecture. He highlighted that as one of the flagship reports of the International Labour Organization in 2021, "World Employment and Social Outlook 2021: The Role of Digital Labour Platforms in Transforming the World of Work" provides a new classification of platform work, detailed analysis of algorithmic management logic and its penetration into economic life, and a comprehensive display of regulatory practices worldwide. The rich content of the lecture broadened the horizons and enriched the professional knowledge of the attending audience.

Dr. Uma Rani joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2008 as a senior economist in the Research Department. She holds a Ph.D. in Development Economics from the University of Hyderabad, India, and has conducted research on the informal economy, minimum wages, and social policies. Before joining the ILO, she served as an associate professor at the Gujarat Institute of Development Research in India and was a visiting scholar at the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan, where she conducted research on informal employment. Since 2016, her research has focused on the transformation of the digital economy, exploring how labor and social systems interact with public policies to provide decent working conditions for workers. Recently, she coordinated the release of the ILO flagship report "World Employment and Social Outlook 2021: The Role of Digital Labour Platforms in Transforming the World of Work".

(International Office of Cooperation and Exchange)