ABSTRACT
The “gig economy” provides for a new style of employment where workers (referred to as “giggers”) sustain themselves by performing a number of “gigs” on a freelance basis (often for several different employers). This type of work entails much freedom for the “gigger” who is, in theory, free to choose whenever and wherever they wish to work. However, there are in many cases still a blurred line between whether or not “giggers” should be considered “self-employed” or “employees” and in some cases working in a “gig economy” entails working for low wages, with many “giggers” working long hours. This has given rise to a new phenomenon called “gig patients”, entailing “giggers” who cannot afford to take time off to seek medical or dental assistance until it is absolutely necessary, by which time treatments needed are often extensive and expensive. These patients will put themselves in debt with no feasible way of paying their medical bills in full, which in turn affects the welfare system. Thus, this chapter seeks to investigate what the wider ramifications that “gig patients” could have to the welfare society and the future of labor. The chapter discusses and proposes various ways in dealing with the “gig patient” situation and concludes that there is a need to establish a community of practice, a clear legal framework and fair standards for the “gig economy”.
