ABSTRACT
Japan’s gig economy has grown significantly over the last decade. Government and business elites have actively sought to promote gig work, highlighting the opportunities it offers in terms of greater autonomy for workers. This is despite a number of detrimental consequences arising from the further flexibilisation of labour markets associated with gig work. This chapter explores these developments, discussing how the integration of new digital technologies has become a key measure through which efforts are being made to increase productivity and further growth in Japan’s ailing economy. It examines emerging social conflicts involving gig workers in Japan, introducing the Uber Eats Union. The chapter shows how the gig economy has achieved a relatively high level of satisfaction and acceptance among gig workers despite gig work being largely fictitious when it comes to the promise of workplace autonomy. Gig work has even been considered by some to be a new means by which to achieve personal growth and self-fulfilment in society.
