Paper short abstract:

The paper explores ride-hail apps strategies of control over drivers, and the so far under-researched and/or under-theorised dynamics of internal stratification among drivers

Paper long abstract:

The central question of this presentation is to what extent and how do Uber and other ride hail apps exert control over partners/workers. It draws on fieldwork on the political economy of digital ride hail platforms and their impact on work, employment and public transport in three African cities: Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg. It will explore the functioning of these platforms, and their impact on drivers/partners and work, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative fieldwork (a survey was administered to 100 drivers in the 3 cities, and interviews and focus groups were held in them).

First, I will discuss UBER’s ideological control over work and its consequences, exploring how the platform projects the idea that its drivers are independent partners, not workers, and whether/how drivers internalise this framing. Second, the analysis focusses on the algorithmic management of work. Third, the paper discussed non algorithmic strategies of management by the apps. A fourth focus of the talk is the discussion of the employment relations that predominate in the sector (are UBER drivers self-employed own-account workers or drivers operating the car of someone else? Are they drivers in the process of purchasing their own car with finance or driver who already own their car?). The paper will show that answering this question, neglected by much of the growing literature on ride hail apps in Africa, is of central important to begin to understand patterns of workforce internal stratification, how UBER works and for whom.