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Time and place for trial lecture:
Time: 6th March
Place: Auditorium 3, Eilert Sundts Building
Trial lecture title: In-/visibility in migrant platform work - international perspectives
Adjudication Committee:
- Professor Lena Näre, University of Helsinki
- Associate Professor Roy Huijsmans, Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Professor Johan Fredrik Rye, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo
Chair of Defence:
- Professor Mette Andersson, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo
Supervisors:
- Professor John Parker, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo
- Research professor Marta Bivand Erdal, Peace Research Institute Oslo
The Familiar Strangers: The Hidden Lives of Migrant Food Couriers
You’ve seen them in bright uniforms navigating city streets or handing over your meal at the door—but who are the people behind the delivery? A new study from Norway uncovers the hidden lives of migrant food couriers, the backbone of the platform economy. While theirwork is essential, these couriers often remain invisible, their struggles and personal stories overlooked.
Many of these workers were once lawyers, doctors, or journalists in their home countries. In Norway, they face a new reality, adapting to unfamiliar languages, harsh winters, and precarious freelance contracts, often without benefits like sick leave. This study highlights the duality of their lives: enduring long shifts in tough conditions yet finding moments of connection—a shared meal with a fellow courier, a smile from a passerby, or the fulfillmentof bringing joy to a customer.
By delving into the lives of these couriers, the research reveals a ‘power from below.’ Platformization isn’t just about technology, regulations, or venture capital—it is also about the everyday lives of workers. Through their resilience, ingenuity, and interactions, these couriers are quietly participating in shaping the digital economy from the streets up.
As we grapple with a digital age dominated by artificial intelligence and automation, this study also raises broader questions about the human condition amidst technological advancement. What do we owe to the individuals whose work supports our modern conveniences? And how can we ensure that their contributions are valued, seen, and supported?
By spotlighting these familiar yet unknown figures, the study calls for policymakers, platform developers, and society at large to create a more equitable and humane platform economy— one that recognizes the people at its core, not just the algorithms and profits that sustain it.
- Scientific abstract (English, pdf)
For more information:
Contact Katalin Varga