This week, BBC World News will be looking at a booming sector of the global economy – the gig economy.
Up to 162 million people in Europe and the US – that’s twenty to thirty percent of the working-age population – earn some form of income through independent work and gigs, according to a recent report. From free agents, who choose this as their primary way of working, to those who gig as a last resort, BBC World News discovers more about the fierce growing debate about the winners and losers.
Advocates of gig economy business models argue that it allows people to work more flexibly, however critics say employees lose out on protections such as the minimum wage or sick pay, letting employers offload the risk onto the work force.
Throughout the week, BBC World News asks entrepreneurs and workers around the world what it’s like to be part of the fastest growing sector of the labour market. ‘Giggers’ in Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Singapore, London and New York tell us their stories. We also hear expert views from leading commentators from around the world, including columnist, Anil Dharker, in Mumbai and Sharing Economy author, Arun Sundararajan, in New York and find out why the gig economy is causing concern amongst companies, workers and governments around the world.
The BBC World News gig economy special will air at the following times from Tuesday 17th to Friday 21st October:
World Business Report – Everyday at 10 am, 11 am, 12.15 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm
Asia Business Report – Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am and Thursday at 6 am and Friday at 6am, 7am, 8am
Business Live – Everyday at 1 pm