Regulating the Platform Economy: International Perspectives on New Forms of Work, edited by Lourdes Mella Méndez and coordinated by Alicia Villalba Sánchez: reviewed by Ilda Durri

• Ilda Durri ^[1]
  1. [1] KU Leuven University
• Localización: Comparative labor law and policy journal, ISSN 1095-6654, Vol. 42, Nº. 1, 2021, págs. 237-244
• Idioma: inglés

• Es reseña de:

  • Regulating the platform economy: international perspectives on new forms of work / coord. por Alicia Villalba Sánchez; Lourdes Mella Méndez (ed. lit.)

    Taylor & Francis, Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2020. ISBN 9781003035008

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• Resumen

  • The book Regulating the Platform Economy: International Perspectives on New Forms of Work represents a collection of fourteen contributions from distinguished international scholars, who come from different professional and geographical backgrounds. These scholars are united by a very contemporary overarching theme: the impact of technology in the world of work. While acknowledging that technological advancements affect our lives in myriad ways, this collective book limits its scope of application in the study of the challenges brought by technology for labor law.

    The authors’ contributions are structured into two main parts. The first part is dedicated to the pavement of a regulatory path for the platform economy. In this context, the work of the contributors ranges from advancing proposals at both an international and a national level to the analysis of an experimental law which has been adopted. In a nutshell, the combination of theoretical suggestions, judicial practices, together with the practical application of the law, offers the reader a comprehensive account on the regulation of the platform economy. This account is underpinned by a diversity of perspectives coming from different continents, an element which can further trigger the reader’s curiosity.

    Notwithstanding the paramount importance of creating a sustainable platform economy, the platform economy constitutes only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to challenges arising from digitalization at work.

    Accordingly, the second part of this book expands into a broader picture, where other challenges associated with Industry 4.0 come under the spotlight.

    The rise of robots, automation, the “smart” labor contract, big data, the excessive control exerted by technology, represent only some of the issues standing at the heart of this second part. In the face of these challenges, the formulation of a response by trade unions, together with the development of new skills, become essential. They also constitute a subject of analysis.

    The book, in its entirety, provides the reader with a fascinating and encompassing analysis on the significant impact of the digitalization of working patterns. At the same time, this volume represents a valuable contribution to labor law scholarship. Considering that these “new” forms of work and work organization constitute the future of work, this book should also be understood as a warm invitation to other scholars to further advance the discussions in this domain.