Navigating the Future of Work: Policy Approaches for Gig Work in Indonesia
Authors
Jimmy Daniel Berlianto
Rasya Athalla Aaron
Gig work is generally defined as flexible, task-based service provision, involving short-term work arrangements in exchange for a set amount of contract-based remuneration, typically determined through bargaining or negotiation mechanisms.
Although regulatory initiatives addressing gig work exist in Indonesia, such approaches must recognize the heterogeneity encompassed by “gig work,” both in terms of job types and work characteristics, as gig work fundamentally differs from traditional employment.
This study identifies four main categories of gig work based on variations in workers’ bargaining power and degree of work autonomy: (i) disguised employment; (ii) dependent self-employment; (iii) constrained, high-leverage self-employment; and (iv) independent self-employment.
The study recommends that the Indonesian government prioritize protecting gig workers who exhibit characteristics of disguised employment and strengthen the broader gig economy ecosystem to empower gig service providers in other categories.
Tara Matthews
