LLB student publishes research on gig worker rights in academic journal
LLB student Alexandria Godala publishes her first journal article, exploring gig worker rights in the Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research.
The School of Law is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Alexandria Godala, a current LLB student, who recently published her first journal article in the renowned Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research.
Titled "Empowering the Gig Worker: Comparative Insights and Pathways for Reform," Alexandria’s article dives into the urgent issue of gig worker rights. Her research provides a comparative analysis of legislative disparities between India and the United Kingdom and proposes meaningful reforms, such as establishing minimum wage protections, enabling collective bargaining, and strengthening laws to safeguard workers in the gig economy.
Examining gig economy workers' rights
As Alexandria explains in her article, the gig economy has transformed the global job market by enabling flexible, on-demand work opportunities. It leverages technological advancements and digital platforms, connecting workers with consumers through apps and websites. While this model offers benefits such as autonomy and flexibility, it also raises challenges related to job security, working hours, and minimum wage protections. The landmark UK case Uber BV v Aslam played a pivotal role in shaping the understanding of employment status for gig economy workers.
When asked about the inspiration for her article, Alexandria explained:
“I learned about the Uber BV v Aslam case in my employment module. Seeing how gig workers were in a grey area between traditional and self-employment was upsetting. While I was writing my employment law essay, on this topic I heard that few states in India created laws to help the situation of gig workers. When I read further on this issue, I felt that I could write a comparative analysis of the problem of gig workers and determine what the UK and India can learn from each other's policies.”
Shaping the conversation on gig workers’ rights
Achieving this milestone wasn’t easy. While balancing her third-year dissertation, exams, and applications for vacation schemes and training contracts, Alexandria dedicated herself to producing a well-researched and accessible piece of work. She admitted:
“It was difficult to include an in-depth legal analysis and simultaneously make the article accessible to wider audiences. However, this was the only way in which I could contribute to improving such a pressing issue in the present world and creating awareness.”
Reflecting on the accomplishment, Alexandria shared:
The most rewarding aspect of this publication was the fact that I contributed to the ongoing discussion about gig workers. I was really surprised to notice while I was doing my research that there is not a lot of research about gig workers in India, and I was elated to bridge this gap to some extent.
To those interested in having their work published, she says:
“I would advise my fellow students to find a topic that interests them and allocate time to researching and writing daily. It is difficult to write a research paper in just a few days because it might just end up being shallow and will not have the legal depth to it. It is also important to find a topic that lacks a lot of research so that you can feel a sense of accomplishment by contributing to the literature.”
Looking ahead
Alexandria is excited to continue her journey in employment law, with a particular focus on gig worker issues. She added:
“I hope to encounter more challenges and opportunities in this field as I pursue my legal career.”
For those interested in exploring her research, "Empowering the Gig Worker: Comparative Insights and Pathways for Reform" can be accessed here.
