Letters | Besides part-time employees, Hong Kong should protect gig workers
Readers discuss the status of gig-based work, a health safety net, and the seizure of Nicolas Maduro
However, those classified as independent contractors remain excluded from the latest reform, even though they often face the same levels of insecurity and financial instability and have weak bargaining power, as noted in research on global digital platform workers.
The government has rightly recognised this gap by forming a liaison group with platform companies and labour organisations, which is an important first step. Yet its mandate is limited to digital platform workers who, as a 2023 Legislative Council paper notes, number around 114,000 (and this figure may involve double-counting). What about the others?
Gig work extends far beyond food delivery and ride-hailing. Consider the private tutor working for an academy, the foot masseur paid per session, the beer promoter working restaurant shifts and any other freelancer performing project-based tasks without formal employment ties.