Labor experiences of digital platform workers in Chile: Freedom or precariousness?

Keywords: labor rights, labor flexibility, labor precariousness, work on digital platforms

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the work experiences of digital platform workers in Chile, focusing on their perception of labor flexibility and the lack of labor rights, since this type of employment is recognized for its high levels of precariousness, informality, and absence of social protection. Through in-depth interviews, it is revealed that workers are aware of the absence of social security but value the flexibility in hours and the absence of traditional supervision that these applications offer. In general, those interviewed appreciate labor flexibility, but their decision to work on these platforms is based on specific economic needs, particularly in a context of high unemployment.

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Author Biography

Natalia Jara Villarroel, Universidad de Arte y Ciencias Sociales

Trabajadora Social de la Universidad de Arte y Ciencias Sociales, ARCIS, y Magíster en Ciencia Política de la Universidad de Chile. Profesora de la Universidad ARCIS, Santiago de Chile. Sus líneas de investigación son: precariedad laboral y nueva cuestión social, derechos sociales, y teoría de la democracia y del Estado.

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Published
2025-12-17
How to Cite
Jara Villarroel N. (2025). Labor experiences of digital platform workers in Chile: Freedom or precariousness?. Cuadernos de Relaciones Laborales, 43(2), 361-376. https://doi.org/10.5209/crla.91968