Status of the Gig Economy in Japan Considered from a Survey of C-to-C Babysitter Services

Kazuki ABIRU

doi:10.4157/ejgeo.15.267

<p>In recent years, new phrases have emerged to describe a new type of economy, referred to as the gig economy, sharing economy, and on-demand economy. The gig economy, in particular, has provided individuals with an opportunity to subvert the notion of “employment.” In the gig economy, workers access online platforms through smartphones or other devices and undertake one-off jobs. This article examines one part of the gig economy in Japan by clarifying the status of C-to-C babysitter services. In this service, a user who wants to use a babysitter for a short time selects a sitter on an online platform and creates a contract. An analysis of the sitters’ profiles shows that most are qualified nursery teachers and homemakers with children who have some experience in care work. In addition, in this C-to-C service, sitters can set their own service price and therefore differentiate themselves by utilizing their experience and childcare skills. Moreover, since most sitters define the area around their homes as their operational area, it is clear that they use slight gaps in their living schedules to achieve a flexible working style. On the other hand, there are also many complaints from users and sitters. There is considerable criticism regarding compensation and responsibility by the platform owners, who are simply digital intermediaries and not responsible for protecting unemployed gig workers. In addition, low barriers to entry into the labor market threaten the quality of services in the case of care. Thus, the survey results show that there are essential issues for platform owners including guaranteeing wages and rights to workers and maintaining a high quality of service through an evaluation system that ensures mutual trust. It is necessary not only to consider aspects of the gig economy such as freely flexible labor but also to pay attention to the elements of precariousness that are imposed upon workers.</p>

Status of the Gig Economy in Japan Considered from a Survey of C-to-C Babysitter Services

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