The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society organises multi-stakeholder dialogues as well as public events in eight countries within the context of the Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation project. This event is carried out in cooperation with the Digital Transformation Center Kenya of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya:
Workers’ rights and platforms’ responsibility
Wednesday, November 9th 2022 | PrideInn Azure Hotel Nairobi, Kenya ‘
Invitation only multi-stakeholder dialogue | 09:30 – 13:00 (EAT)
Public panel discussion (onsite) | 14:00 – 16:30 pm (EAT)
Livestream | 14:45 – 15:30 (EAT) | 12:45 – 13:30 (CET)
Online platforms play an increasingly important role in today’s digital economy. One example of the growing relevance of the platform economy are online labour markets. These two-sided platform marketplaces allow buyers and sellers of online mediated work to connect around the globe and transact tasks in various occupations, such as graphic design, translation work or software development. Platform labour markets deliver value to customers and provide economic opportunities for suppliers. While these markets can be a means for economic empowerment and growth, they also generate substantial economic benefits for the platforms themselves and often introduce novel and precarious forms of work and economic interaction. Hence, the emergence of these digital marketplaces call for novel and sustainable approaches to regulation.
This event is dedicated to exploring pathways for a sustainable regulation of online labour markets in Kenya. It consists of two parts: The first part will be an invitation only multi-stakeholder dialogue (MSD). The dialogue is especially directed at policy makers, platform workers, civil society organisations, and academics in the field of labour rights and the platform economy as well as platform company representatives and aims to initiate an in-depth expert discussion. For the second part, the event will be opened to the public for a panel discussion of renowned experts on the challenges and opportunities towards a sustainable regulation of Kenya’s online labour markets.
Agenda Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue
| 10:00 | Introduction |
| | Dr. Fabian Stephany (OII, University of Oxford and HIIG Berlin): “Understanding the dynamics of the global online labour market” |
| 10:15 | Presentations – Understanding online labour markets in Kenya and beyond |
| | Associate Prof. Kutoma Wakunuma / Prof. Tom Kwanya (De Montfort University Leicester, UK / Technical University of Kenya): “Regulation of digital platforms for a socially-just gig economy in Kenya” |
| | Elvis Melia / Teresios Bundi (Researcher and Policy Advisor / University of Nairobi) – “Digital career paths or dead-end gigs? Evidence from Kenyan online-workers’ skills development and employment trajectories” |
| 11:30 | Small group discussion |
| | Group 1 – Improving the livelihoods of online workers |
| | Group 2 – Including platforms in sustainable regulation |
Agenda Public Panel Discussion
| 14:00 | Arrival |
| 14:30 | Panel discussion, Q&A |
| | Panellists:
- Dr. Shikoh Gitau (Chief Executive Officer, Qhala)
- Prof. Tom Kwanya (Technical University of Kenya)
- Elizabeth Wanja (African Centre For Women, Information and Communications Technology)
|
| 15.30 | Networking & Get-together with snacks |
Attendance at the panel discussion
Please register through this website if you want to participate in the public panel discussion. Participation in the MSD is by invitation only.
Bookings
