Denys Nesteryak, 20, works as a courier for food delivery company Glovo. When he decides to start his working day, he launches a mobile app, receives an order, jumps on his bike and rides fast to deliver food.
Although convenient – student Nesteryak can work whenever and wherever he wants – his activity is legally unprotected in Ukraine, much like the work of Uber
drivers and other online platform contractors dubbed “gig workers” in Europe.
Ungoverned by Ukrainian law, this job provides no social guarantees – no sick leaves, no days off, no fixed hours, no constant revenue — while allowing the firms behind these online platforms to potentially exploit their workforce.
The gig economy is huge and growing: By 2023, it is expected to reach $455 billion in global gross volume. And Ukraine is at the epicenter. It is one of the world’s top 10 countries with the largest numbers of gig workers and among the top five fastest growing freelance markets.
