Type: hybrid event (online and on-site)
Location: Banja Luka, Faculty of Political Sciences University of Banja Luka and online (Zoom)
Date: September 06th (Friday) 2024
Organizers: Faculty of Political Sciences University of Banja Luka (local host) and COST Action CA21118 – Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab (P-WILL)
Focus
Platform work, and consequently platform workers, has been addressed through various and non-comprehensive definitions. For the purpose of this conference we understand ‘platform work’ as “any work organized through a digital labor platform and performed (…) by an individual on the basis of a contractual relationship between the digital labor platform or an intermediary and the individual, irrespective of whether a contractual relationship exists between the individual or an intermediary and the recipient of the service” as provided in the Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on improving working conditions in platform work from December 2021. Although the discussion around the definition of platform work and platform workers has been evolving in the past decade across the globe, with initiatives and policies focusing on regulating rights and obligations in the platform economy, the Western Balkans region still lags behind. Platform worker’s rights and status are still far beyond the adequate recognition and regulation in the labor markets, which deepens their precarious position, particularly in the (semi-)peripheral countries. Such a position has been the cause of increasing labor protests (seeking better position and acknowledgment of rights) and initiatives for better organizing and mobilizing of the platform workers either through the association of platform workers or through the already existing unions.
Having in mind all the above-mentioned, the conference invites contributions from a broad spectrum of social sciences and humanities focusing on (but not limited to) the following thematic areas, and where possible, with specific examples:
- Platform work challenges
- Platform workers’ rights and status
- Representation and organizing of platform workers
- Workers’ protest and mobilization in the platform economy
- Regulating the right to association in the platform economy
- Migrant workers’ position and rights as platform workers
Submission information:
Those wishing to participate in the conference by presenting a research paper must submit an extended abstract (up to 800 words) by July 01, 2024. Authors of accepted papers will be invited to attend the event and present their research at the conference. They will also be invited to publish their papers in the peer-reviewed journal Sociološki pregled/Sociological Review Special Issue.
Submissions should contain the full name and surname of the author(s), affiliation, e-mail address, title of the paper, extended abstract (up to 800 words), and keywords (up to 5 words). Submissions with the subject „Conference_Platform work“ should be sent to the following address:andjela.pepic@fpn.unibl.org.
Practical information:
The conference is organized in a hybrid format, allowing both online and on-site participation. It is a one-day event starting at 10 a.m. CET and expected to end at 4 p.m. CET.
Participation at the conference is free of charge. For on-site participants, the local host (Faculty of Political Sciences University of Banja Luka) covers the costs of lunch and coffee breaks and accommodation (for one night) through the grant provided by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The participants should cover their travel expenses themselves.
Key dates:
- July 01, 2024 – extended abstract submission deadline
- July 15, 2024 – authors notified of the decision
- August 30, 2024 – full papers submission deadline
- September 06, 2024 – conference
- October 30, 2024 – expected publication date
Scientific Committee:
Anđela Pepić, Faculty of Political Sciences University of Banja Luka
Tanja Jakobi, Public Policy Research Center Belgrade and COST Action Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab (P-Will)
Guido Smorto, University of Palermo and COST Action Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab (P-Will)
Mayo Fuster Morell, Dimmons Research Group and COST Action Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab (P-Will)
Branka Anđelković, Public Policy Research Center Belgrade and COST Action Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab (P-Will)
| This event is based upon work from COST Action < Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab, CA21118>, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. |