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About Fairwork

Platform work provides essential income and opportunities to tens of millions of people around the world. However, most platform workers are not protected by existing employment law or collective bodies, meaning they face low pay, precarity, and poor and dangerous working conditions.

Fairwork is committed to highlighting best and worst labour practices in the platform economy. Our goal is to show that better, and fairer, jobs are possible in the platform economy.

The Fairwork project is based at the Oxford Internet Institute and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. Through our global network of researchers, we evaluate the working conditions of digital platforms and rank them based on our five principles of fair work. The Fairwork project is currently operating in 30 countries across 5 continents. Across countries, we work closely with workers, platforms, advocates and policymakers to envision and build a fairer future of work.

The Fairwork Principles were developed through a collaborative process that reflects the insights of our international network and the voices of workers around the world. They provide a benchmark of fair platform work, for platforms, workers, customers and policymakers.

Follow the project on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or get in touch if you’d like to learn more.

The Fairwork Pledge

We are seeking to engage with organisations, whether current or potential users of platform labour, that would like to demonstrate their public commitment to fairer platform work.

Interested? Learn more about how to become a partner or supporter.

Fairwork Principles

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Fair Pay

Workers, irrespective of their employment classification, should earn a decent income. They should be paid on time, and for all work completed.
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Fair Conditions

Workers should be protected from risks arising from the processes of work. Platforms should take proactive measures to protect and promote the health and safety of workers.
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Fair Contracts

Terms and conditions should be transparent, concise, and always accessible to workers. Contracts should be consistent with the terms of workers’ engagement on the platform.
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Fair Management

There should be a documented due process for decisions affecting workers. Management processes should be transparent and result in equitable outcomes for workers.
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Fair Representation

Platforms should provide a documented process through which worker voice can be expressed. Workers have the right to organise in collective bodies, and platforms should be prepared to cooperate and negotiate with them.