FES Global 59d ago

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, platform-based work is rapidly reshaping labour markets, creating new forms of income generation while exposing workers to new forms of insecurity. Zambia is no exception. As Zambia’s digital economy continues to expand, so too does its dependence on platform workers who provide transport, delivery, e-commerce, and freelance digital services that sustain urban livelihoods and market access. Yet despite their growing contribution, many platform workers remain excluded from basic labour protections. Irregular earnings, unclear algorithmic management, long working hours, and the absence of social security continue to define platform-based work. We recognise that the future of work cannot be built on innovation alone. It must also be grounded in fairness, accountability, and workers’ rights. Building an inclusive digital future requires recognising platform workers not as peripheral actors, but as central to economic productivity, urban service delivery, and labour policy reform. Their contribution must be matched by rights, protections, and representation. Tiyende Pamodzi. 🤝