The last few years have been marked by a global economic crisis, strains on both institutions and labor markets, and unprecedented disruptions in the mobility of goods and people. Covid-19 has profoundly affected the way we work, causing an increase in people turning to digital labor platforms to deal with the uncertainties of an unstable economy. Even in the formal sector, remote work and automation have led to dramatic changes in the workplace. In navigating this new reality, it is crucial to examine how these changes are impacting workers, businesses, and society as a whole. By bringing together researchers, workers, policymakers, and practitioners, the INDL-6 conference “Digital Labor in the wake of Pandemic Times” addresses the latest developments and challenges in the fields of technology-mediated labor, platformization, and automation.

Presentation

Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society invites you to the 6th conference of the International Network on Digital Labor (INDL-6), “Digital Labor in the Wake of Pandemic Times”. The conference is co-organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Digital Platform Labor (DiPLab), and Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB). It will take place in Berlin between October 9 and 11, 2023.

The last few years have been marked by a global economic crisis, strains on both institutions and labor markets, and unprecedented disruptions in the mobility of goods and people. Covid-19 has profoundly affected the way we work, causing an increase in people turning to digital labor platforms to deal with the uncertainties of an unstable economy. Even in the formal sector, remote work and automation have led to dramatic changes in the workplace. In navigating this new reality, it is crucial to examine how these changes are impacting workers, businesses, and society as a whole.By bringing together researchers, workers, policymakers, and practitioners, the INDL-6 conference “Digital Labor in the wake of Pandemic Times” addresses the latest developments and challenges in the fields of technology-mediated labor, platformization, and automation.

Topics

Submission topics may include, but are not limited to:

• The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the gig economy and on online digital labor
• The rise of workplace surveillance and algorithmic management as a consequence of the pandemic
• Algorithmic systems in recruiting, talent acquisition, and human resources
• The role of platform companies in facilitating the shift to digital labor and the consequences for workers and businesses
• The effects of remote work and digital labor on employee well-being and productivity
• The social and economic implications of the shift towards digital labor, including the potential for increased inequality and the disruption of traditional labor markets
• Policy responses to the rise of digital labor and automation, including the potential for regulation and government intervention
• Possibilities for organizing digital workers and geographically distributed workforces
• Case studies and best practices for managing digital labor and automation in the wake of the pandemic
• Interdisciplinary approaches and mixed methods for the study of platforms and labor
• Examining the gendered nature of work in the context of platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence
• Queering the platform economy: examining the impact on/of LGBTQ+ workers
• Digital labor from an intersectional perspective
• Disability and inclusion in digital and physical working environments
• AI and digital labor through a decolonial lens
• Digital platforms and informal labor markets
• Generative AI: Challenges to human labor
• Disability and inclusion in digital and physical working environments

Submissions guidelines

Submissions of abstracts for papers, case studies, and policy briefs regarding these and other relevant topics are welcome. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words in length. We strongly encourage submissions from the Global South across all topics. At your request upon submission, visa assistance and a limited number of travel grants are available for eligible candidates. To submit an abstract, please send a PDF version to contact@indl.network 

by April 3, 2023.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts and notifications of acceptance will be sent out by April 21, 2023.

Important Dates:

• Deadline for submissions: April 3, 2023

• Acceptance notification: April 21, 2023
• Registration opens: TBA
• INDL-6 conference dates: October 9-11, 2023

We look forward to receiving your submissions and to fostering an engaging and thought-provoking discussion at the conference.

Scientific committee

• Milagras Miceli, Weizenbaum Institute, DAIR Institute
• Antonio Casilli, Institut Politechnique Paris
• Paola Tubaro, CNRS
• Uma Rani, International Labor Organization
• Martin Kzywdzinski, Weizenbaum Institute
• Florian Butollo, Weizenabum Institute
• Sana Ahmad, WZB