It's a choice of the freelancer to work for only one app. Drivers in my city usually use multiple - Uber, Bolt, a local taxi company app. I had many Bolt rides in an Uber branded car and vice versa, and many Uber/Bolt rides in a "normal taxi" car. I saw the drivers switch between the different apps, choosing which one offers them the best rides right in that moment.
Food delivery is the same - I saw drivers have multiple different branded bags in the car when they delivered food to me.
I really don't see how it's masked employment if this can be done without any issue.
> The fundamental feature of freelance work is that you get your own customers and you are not dependent on a market maker who cuts you in.
They got their own customers - the gig work platform is the customer. How do you even define "getting their own customers"? Do I have to take them out to nice dinners? Is an ad in newspaper sufficient? What about an online ad? And what about an ad on a job platform? I worked for a private jet Air Operator company - their entire business was done through Avinode platform, that's basically Uber but for private jets. Are they masked employees of Avinode too?
Would you say that developers working through Upwork or Toptal are not freelancers? I specifically asked my tax government office this question - they said it doesn't matter whether there is a marketplace, what matters are the criteria I listed above.
> that are available as a reserve workforce to pick up any sudden demand.
Food delivery is the same - I saw drivers have multiple different branded bags in the car when they delivered food to me.
I really don't see how it's masked employment if this can be done without any issue.
> The fundamental feature of freelance work is that you get your own customers and you are not dependent on a market maker who cuts you in.
They got their own customers - the gig work platform is the customer. How do you even define "getting their own customers"? Do I have to take them out to nice dinners? Is an ad in newspaper sufficient? What about an online ad? And what about an ad on a job platform? I worked for a private jet Air Operator company - their entire business was done through Avinode platform, that's basically Uber but for private jets. Are they masked employees of Avinode too?
Would you say that developers working through Upwork or Toptal are not freelancers? I specifically asked my tax government office this question - they said it doesn't matter whether there is a marketplace, what matters are the criteria I listed above.
> that are available as a reserve workforce to pick up any sudden demand.
That doesn't sound like "set your own schedule".