Simpozijs “Cilvēks aiz kastes pētniecībā un mākslā”

Symposium “The Human Behind the Box in Research and Art”

On December 17, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the final event of the Latvian Academy of Culture's fundamental and applied research project, "Understanding and Practices of Autonomy among Digital Platform Workers: A Cultural-Sociological Analysis of Wolt and Bolt Delivery Workers' Experiences," will take place at the Gara Māja of the Latvian Academy of Culture (Tobacco Factory Quarter, Miera Street 58a). The symposium, titled “The Human Behind the Box in Research and Art,” is free to attend with prior registration here.

Part 1: Research

In the first session, titled “Research,” project researchers Maija Spuriņa, Iveta Ķešāne, and Sabīne Ozola will share insights into the methods used, data collected, and academic findings, as well as address challenges related to their work.

Platforms often advertise courier jobs as offering flexibility and unprecedented autonomy. However, the organization of courier work suggests limited control over working conditions. Platform algorithms allocate orders, determine payment, set delivery times, and even dictate delivery routes. Additionally, platforms monitor performance and may block courier accounts, effectively preventing them from working. Despite this, many couriers report feeling freer and more autonomous in this role than in previous jobs. Contrary to popular belief, this new form of employment attracts not only South Asian migrants and individuals without education but also many locals, including those with higher education and significant professional experience. The researchers will discuss the factors that lead individuals to choose this work, the relative freedom it offers, and why Latvian couriers have not organized collective protests, unlike in other countries.

Part 2: Art

A significant portion of the project focuses on art inspired by research. In the second session, titled “Art,” playwright Krista Burāne will present insights from her upcoming play “Just-in-Time Delivery,” while director Dans Silovs will discuss the making of the documentary “Invisible People” and share a preview of the film.

Discussion: Platform Work – Innovative Business or Exploitation?

The symposium concludes with a discussion titled “Platform Work – Innovative Business Opportunity or Exploitation?” The discussion will explore contradictions identified during the research process. While platform work often lacks social security and grants workers minimal control, creating concerns about their classification as self-employed, it also allows some individuals to balance work with other responsibilities, such as studies, caregiving, or entrepreneurship. The debate will address whether society benefits from this new form of work or if platforms exploit gaps in labor market regulations, profit from public urban infrastructure, and take advantage of vulnerable worker groups. It will also consider whether and how the state, municipalities, platforms, workers, or the non-governmental sector can mitigate associated risks and enhance the public benefits.

The program is available here.

The symposium will be live-streamed on the Latvian Academy of Culture's Facebook and YouTube channels. The event is part of the project “Understanding and Practices of Autonomy among Digital Platform Workers: A Cultural-Sociological Analysis of Wolt and Bolt Delivery Workers' Experiences” (Nr. LZP-2021/1-0521), implemented under the Fundamental and Applied Research Program and funded by the Latvian Council of Science.