The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa
Digital work, otherwise referred to as 'gig' work, is heralded as a useful strategy that could help bridge the unemployment rate in South Africa by connecting job seekers and business organisations across the global spectrum. The purpose of this paper was to explore the benefits and chall...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate
2023-05-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1051 |
| _version_ | 1797779095216455680 |
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| author | Sudhika Palhad Stanley Onwubu Rasmi Singh Rookmoney Thakur Surendra Thakur Gugu Mkhize |
| author_facet | Sudhika Palhad Stanley Onwubu Rasmi Singh Rookmoney Thakur Surendra Thakur Gugu Mkhize |
| author_sort | Sudhika Palhad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Digital work, otherwise referred to as 'gig' work, is heralded as a useful strategy that could help bridge the unemployment rate in South Africa by connecting job seekers and business organisations across the global spectrum. The purpose of this paper was to explore the benefits and challenges of the gig economy on SMMEs in South Africa. In this study, an interpretive research paradigm was followed to explore the benefits and challenges of the gig economy in the SMMEs in South Africa. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 20 participants, consisting of thirteen gig workers (n=13) and seven business organization employees (n=7). The data collected were thematically analysed with the aid of NVivo v12 software (QSR International Pty Ltd, 2015). The participants held the view that the gig economy can promote business growth and economic inclusion, and help organisations better manage their resources. While gig work offers some advantages, the participants highlighted concerns surrounding the lack of clear policy, occupational vulnerability, precarity, platform-based work, and the risks of gig work. The study suggests that gig work is critical to advancing the growth of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d310ac1544e49ccbb33150fe16fa1a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2663-4597 2663-4589 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d310ac1544e49ccbb33150fe16fa1a12023-07-16T09:42:14ZengResearch and Postgraduate Support DirectorateAfrican Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies2663-45972663-45892023-05-0151The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South AfricaSudhika Palhad 0Stanley Onwubu1Rasmi Singh2Rookmoney Thakur3Surendra Thakur4Gugu Mkhize5Durban University of Technology, South AfricaDurban University of TechnologyDurban University of Technology, South AfricaDurban University of Technology, South AfricaDurban University of Technology, South AfricaInsurance Sector Education and Training Authority Digital work, otherwise referred to as 'gig' work, is heralded as a useful strategy that could help bridge the unemployment rate in South Africa by connecting job seekers and business organisations across the global spectrum. The purpose of this paper was to explore the benefits and challenges of the gig economy on SMMEs in South Africa. In this study, an interpretive research paradigm was followed to explore the benefits and challenges of the gig economy in the SMMEs in South Africa. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 20 participants, consisting of thirteen gig workers (n=13) and seven business organization employees (n=7). The data collected were thematically analysed with the aid of NVivo v12 software (QSR International Pty Ltd, 2015). The participants held the view that the gig economy can promote business growth and economic inclusion, and help organisations better manage their resources. While gig work offers some advantages, the participants highlighted concerns surrounding the lack of clear policy, occupational vulnerability, precarity, platform-based work, and the risks of gig work. The study suggests that gig work is critical to advancing the growth of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1051digital workgig economySouth Africaunemployment |
| spellingShingle | Sudhika Palhad Stanley Onwubu Rasmi Singh Rookmoney Thakur Surendra Thakur Gugu Mkhize The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies digital work gig economy South Africa unemployment |
| title | The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa |
| title_full | The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa |
| title_short | The Benefits and Challenges of the Gig Economy: Perspective of Gig Workers and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa |
| title_sort | benefits and challenges of the gig economy perspective of gig workers and small medium and micro enterprises smmes in south africa |
| topic | digital work gig economy South Africa unemployment |
| url | https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1051 |
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