African governments are struggling with enormous unemployment, especially among young people, and poverty. The non-digital labor market does not offer enough employment opportunities for the high number of people who enter the labor market. However, many hurdles are encountered when attempting to seize this opportunity and enable potential digital workers
to work in the digital space. This paper aims to promote understanding of issues related to the digital divide, gender digital divide, geographical dispersion of digital work, and adverse digital inclusion.
First, the lack of access to ICT is discussed, especially for those living in Sub-Saharan Africa where digital infrastructure is inadequate. It then analyzes the geographic distribution of digital work and examines how this could negatively impact African digital workers and encourage exploitation. In addition, it is discussed that there are also problems with the integration of people into the digital world of work since digital companies benefit from a lack of regulatory framework for digital workers in Sub Saharan Africa and therefore use predatory practices. It is argued that inclusion is not a panacea against poverty as wages for digital workers are particularly low in Sub-Saharan Africa. Both aspects – the digital divide and adverse digital inclusion – are analyzed from a gender perspective. This paper attempts to shed light on inequalities arising from unequal access to digital technology and inequality arising from inclusion in the digital labor market. It ends with a proposal of possible solutions and political implications.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Digital divide
- Digital divide between Global North and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gender digital divide
- Geographic dispersion of digital work
- Adverse digital incorporation
- Mechanism of adverse digital incorporation
- Examples of adverse digital incorporation
- Gender and adverse digital incorporation
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the digital divide, gender digital divide, geographic dispersion of digital work, and adverse digital inclusion in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper analyzes the unequal access to ICT and its implications for potential digital workers, particularly in the context of the growing digital labor market.
- The digital divide between the Global North and Sub-Saharan Africa
- The gender digital divide
- The geographic dispersion of digital work and its impact on digital workers
- Adverse digital inclusion and its consequences for workers in the digital space
- The role of gender in shaping access to and inclusion in the digital economy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The paper introduces the context of high unemployment and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and the potential of the digital labor market as an alternative to traditional employment. It outlines the key themes of the digital divide, gender digital divide, geographical dispersion of digital work, and adverse digital inclusion.
- Digital Divide: This chapter discusses the unequal access to ICT, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It explores the gap in internet penetration between developed and developing countries, highlighting the disparities in access and use of digital technologies.
- Gender Digital Divide: This chapter examines the unequal access and use of ICT between genders, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. It identifies factors contributing to the gender digital divide, such as cultural norms, educational disparities, and unequal access to digital infrastructure.
- Geographic Dispersion of Digital Work: This chapter explores the geographical distribution of digital work and its implications for workers in the Global South. It highlights the concentration of demand for digital work in developed countries while supply is more dispersed, leading to competition among digital workers.
- Adverse Digital Incorporation: This chapter discusses the challenges faced by digital workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the concept of adverse digital incorporation. It analyzes how digital companies can benefit from the lack of regulation in developing countries and exploit workers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper examines key issues related to the digital divide, gender digital divide, geographical dispersion of digital work, adverse digital inclusion, and the exploitation of digital workers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key concepts explored include ICT access, digital infrastructure, global outsourcing, online labor platforms, digital skills, and gender inequality.
- Quote paper
- Anna Semucyowera (Author), 2023, Digital Workers in the Global South. Challenges of Inclusion of Digital Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1437584
