Algorithmic Management: Impacts on Labour Autonomy in Gig Platforms with Special Reference to Uber

This research investigates the dynamics of algorithmic management and communication, focusing on their effects on labour autonomy within the gig economy, with Uber drivers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as the focal point. As the gig economy continues to reshape the nature of work, algorithmic decision-making has emerged as a central force, presenting both challenges and opportunities for workers on app-based platforms. While discussions on algorithmic injustice have gained attention, this research uniquely explores the lesser-explored facet of the impact of algorithms on labour autonomy.The purpose of this research is to investigate how the algorithmic management embedded within Uber's app influences the capacity for drivers to make independent choices. The results show a complex relationship between driver autonomy, information transparency, and the larger labour dynamics in the gig economy. The prevalent issue of information asymmetry, communication difficulties, and isolated incidents of resistance among Uber drivers are among the major themes. In addition to adding to the increasing body of knowledge on algorithmic management, the study emphasises the need for more in-depth research on the relationship between algorithmic platforms and gig work in particular socio-political contexts. This is because understanding and addressing the dynamic changes that occur between algorithmic platforms and gig workers are crucial.

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