Spanish digital delivery firm Glovo has emerged the best employer in Kenya’s gig economy.
Glovo scored seven out of the possible 10 points in the 2021 rankings by Farework Labour Standards report which looks into the fair pay, fair contracts, fair management and representation of employees in the documented policies by digital firms.
SweepSouth, an online platform that connects home owners with professional home cleaners was ranked second with four point, followed closely by Uber, which matches drives with passengers garnering two.
The 2021 gig economy survey had ten entries that attracted both local and multinational companies including; Bolt, Little Cab, UberEats, In Drive, Wasili and Jumia.
The companies were evaluated based on documented policies and practices in advancing fairer working conditions for employees.
According to the report, Glovo provided sufficient evidence to show that their workers did not fall below the statutory minimum wage levels for their active working hours, after costs were
taken into account.
“Four platforms (Glovo, SweepSouth, Uber and Uber Eats) could show that they took steps to mitigate risks that workers faced in the course of their work for the platform, and as such received a point for Principle 2.1. Glovo also provided evidence of compensating workers for loss of income if they needed to self-isolate as a result of becoming infected with COVID-19,” the report read in part.
The survey also looked into fair management, which focuses on the onboarding and dismissal procedures of workers by the digital firms.
“Glovo and Sweepsouth were the only platforms that could evidence an official avenue for workers to appeal disciplinary decisions, including deactivation. This made Glovo and Sweepsouth eligible to receive a point for 4.2 (equity in the management process),” read the report.
The report which was done by Fairwork’s 2021 Labour Standards, an Australian consultancy firm, said that despite the win, Glovo still has to work in areas of importance of workers in pay and representation.
The Barcelona based company now seeks to make Kenya its African headquarters to serve operations for the whole continent.
