Gig Work in Riga: Precarity, Autonomy and Individualization of Wellbeing in a Low Trust Society

Abstract

This empirical study of food delivery gig workers in Riga, Latvia, contributes to the growing literature on precarious aspects of gig work – its short-term engagements, the lack of legal protection and social benefits, and algorithmic management as an autonomy-limiting control mechanism.

The empirical data used in the analysis consists of 60 semi-structured in-depth interviews with food delivery couriers working for the two largest platforms in Riga – Wolt and Bolt Food – and a substantial archive of online communication among couriers. Through qualitative thematic analysis of this data, we describe gig working in food delivery as it is practiced in Latvia and engage with the existing body of literature on this phenomenon elaborating three issues – the choice of gig work and diversity of gig working experience, the paradoxical issue of autonomy in gig working, and the affective obstacles to transforming discontent with working conditions into collective action.

First, on analyzing the differences in food delivery gig workers’ motivations for choosing this work, we propose a sociological typology that demonstrates heterogeneity of gig working experiences. We demonstrate that even if food delivery couriers face the same precarious labor conditions, the subjective experience of each type of gig worker varies.

Second, we untangle the contradictory paradox of autonomy in gig working by theorizing autonomy in the platform economy not only as an issue of workplace but as connected to broader biographies of gig-workers. We argue that gig work as a non-standard and flexible employment opportunity allows couriers to self-govern their other statuses and roles. Gig work allows for relational autonomy and provides individuals with more opportunities to manage their lives in a way that is more satisfying to them and more viable for the social networks in which they participate.

Third, we argue that certain affective dispositions inhibit the transformation of growing class resentment among gig workers in Riga into political action. Among such affective dispositions, we observe a low level of social trust towards fellow workers, unions, and platforms, low self-confidence tied to shame and fear of disconnection, as well as neoliberal “feeling rules” of individual responsibility rooted in post-Soviet neoliberalization.