DIGITIZING EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN THE ERA OF GIG WORK: THE CASE OF UBER AND UBER DRIVERS

  • Morgan Mwenda
Keywords: Digital employment, Gig work, Uber, Uber drivers.

Abstract

Uber Technologies Inc. is a ride-hailing company that developed what has been
widely described as a disruptive technology108, in Kenya and globally. It is an
online platform that allows the user to order the nearest vehicle to their location
as pinpointed by the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).109 The company was
founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, and quickly became a
captain in the transport industry.
Uber reported revenues of $31.8 billion, despite overhead costs resulting in a loss
of $9.06 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022.110 For the end of the 2023
first Quarter, Uber reported a 29% Year-on-Year rise in revenue to $8.8 billion,
showing positive and strong growth as compared to the first quarter of 2022.111
Europe, Middle East and Africa contributed a total of $2.09 billion to that figure,
representing an increase of 86% from Q1 2022.112 This was the highest single
point of growth as compared to other regions around the globe, indicating rapid
uptake of the application and favorable business conditions in the said region. 

Despite various scandals that have made the company an interesting one to watch 

by the business community, Uber has acquired its global position on merit. In
addition to providing an accessible, affordable and easy-to-use innovation, it has
provided gainful employment to about 22,800 employees worldwide and
facilitated over 5 million drivers and couriers to earn a living globally.113 Uber
employs approximately 12000 drivers in Kenya alone. The company is regulated
by the National Transport and Regulatory Authority under the Transport Network
Companies, Owners, Drivers and Passengers Regulations of 2022.

Author Biography

Morgan Mwenda

Morgan Mwenda is a senior year student pursuing an LLB at the University of Nairobi and the Research Editor
for the University of Nairobi Law Journal. He is also an intern at JK Mungania and Company Advocates. Besides
several other interests, the author is passionate about using Labour Law to achieve equity and has previously
published articles exploring labour dynamics. He can be reached at morganmwendakk@gmail.com.
108 Cramer J and Krueger A, “Disruptive Change in the Taxi Business: The Case of Uber” (2016) 1065 177
109 Slavulj M, Kanižaj K and Đurđević S, “The Evolution of Urban Transport – Uber” in Stjepan Lakušić (ed),
Road and Rail Infrastructure IV (University of Zagreb 2016).

Published
2024-05-14