As a long-time member of the gig economy, I wonder now how many Pinoy freelancers are faring pretty well considering we are not protected by any laws regarding freelancing. I hope that Congress and the Senate will be sure to support that movement so that we gig workers will have better working conditions.
See, members of the gig economy may benefit if their employers pay good wages, that is true. However, we gig workers are still vulnerable to risks, such as delays in payment or even nonpayment of our wages, abusive employers, jealousy from other gig workers who maliciously try to harm legitimate gig workers who are luckier, in that sense. We also don't get side benefits like 13th month pay or a Christmas bonus. If you really look at the Math of it, you will see that there isn't much difference between a salaried contractual employee and a gig worker.
However, our legislators seem more concerned about other industries, not the gig economy. So we freelancers have to be cautious about our welfare, even when we're hired already. I hope though there will be concerned legislators who will try to pass laws to protect the welfare of the gig economy workers. That's because there are more of us now and more will be added, in the final analysis.
