"I just want to survive" : A comparative study of food courier riders in three African cities

A new worker has emerged in the digital economy. This worker is subject to a new business model based on algorithmic management. Promising freedom and shared business ownership (SBO), these technology companies open new economic opportunities in Africa. However, in the comparative study of food courier motorbike riders in Accra (Ghana), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya), a different picture emerges, in which Riders face constant risks of accidents and harassment. The companies do not provide any essential occupational health and safety protections. The research has identified union-like hybrid collectives offering mutual aid, which allows riders to exercise structural, associational and societal power. The research aims: (1) to understand the working lives of food courier motorbike riders, and (2) to use our findings to advocate for policy change by facilitating the self-organisation of riders.

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