On climate change, energy, work-life balance and gender equality, the Nordic countries seem to be leading the way. In this episode, we talk with Professor Andrew Scott about the new book, The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia, published by Melbourne University Press and available from Readings, Paperback Bookshop, Dymocks and online. Brought to you by the Australian Institute of Employment Rights. August 2021. Photo courtesy of Nelly Volkovich on Unsplash.

Work Matters. The Australian Institute of Employment Rights Podcast

In this episode, we investigate two aspects of The Machine as boss. Firstly, we look at the dark side of the gig economy in Australia and around the world, "the last frontier of labour exploitation" as our guest, Emanuele Menegatti, Full Professor of Labour Law and Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Bologna University, Italy, describes it. Why are gig workers not covered by our system of workplace rights? Are there ways to bring them into the system, by recognising or deeming them to be employees?  Or should we develop a separate regulatory scheme for these workers? What can we learn from developments in Europe?

Increasingly, the both the assignment of work and management and supervision of work tasks is being handled by machines. What are the consequences for workers and what should be done in response? We discuss this emerging issue of "algorithmic management" with Victor Bernhardtz, Ombudsman for Digital Labour Markets at Unionen, a large trade union in Sweden.

Featuring outro music by Forbes Hawkins and other music by Epidemic Sound.

Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash