Online Platforms and Sharing Economy: Promises and Challenges for Gig Workers

The aim of this paper is to study the opinions and experiences of gig workers that are working in sharing economy sector in the Iranian platform ecosystem. In other words, the paper intends to analyze the promises and challenges of working for an online ride-hailing service-Snapp-in Iran. Platforms, that provide services to customers in terms of sharing economy, are developing increasingly. The platforms play a key role in the development of digitally-mediated entrepreneurship and result in some challenges. In urban transportation, we encounter some conflicts between traditional taxi drivers and platform businesses that lack updated regulations resulted in continuing conflicts. The author of the present paper has tried to discuss some promises and challenges for Snapp drives using critical analysis and interview method. The Findings showed that although working as a gig worker contains some promises as occupational flexibility and facilitating employment, but also occupational insecurity is the most important concern for its drivers. So, it is suggested that updating working regulations could lead to a “fairer sharing economy” based on local implications.