The Legal Status of Employment in the Context of the Development of the Gig Economy

Abstract

Relevance. This article explores current employment status issues, in particular how the gig economy has in-fluenced the labor market, as the gig economy and digital platform work have become hot topics, changing the format and experience of work for more and more people. Over the years, there has been an increase in the use of gig workers in Russia as well as abroad for several reasons, such as the changing nature of work, the availability of technology, and work preferences. We will start the article with the concepts of the gig economy, gig employment, and studying the reasons for the growth of gig work, after which we will consider possible areas of legal regulation of platform employment and the judicial practice of foreign countries in the field of gig employment. The purpose of the article is to form a scientific approach to determining the legal status of employment in the context of the development of the gig economy. Objectives: to identify the main areas of legal regulation of platform employment, to study foreign experience in determining the status of the self-employed. Methodology. In the process of working on the study, such methods of scientific knowledge as general scientific (analysis, synthesis, comparison, etc.) and particular scientific (formal dogmatic) methods were used. Results. In the course of the study, the legal consolidation of the status of a gig worker and providing it with minimal guarantees of social protection are substantiated. Conclusion. The author substantiates the need to fix the concept of "independent performer" at the legislative level, determine the degree of control by digital platforms over the activities of independent performers. On the example of foreign experience, conclusions are drawn about the need to guarantee the gig worker social protection of his rights and freedoms in the process of carrying out his activities.