Labour and Digital Rights in Africa: State of Play and Policy Actions

In recent years, Africa has witnessed technological advancements that have raised optimism that data-driven digital solutions could revolutionise various sectors and transform the future of work on the Continent.

These advancements, driven by increased mobile phone penetration, improved internet access, and a growing tech-savvy population, could have profound implications for labour and digital rights in the region.

Furthermore, the convergence of data-driven digital technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic automation, combined with new business models such as location-based platformisation and gig-work, could deliver considerable benefits.

This policy brief provides an overview of the emerging uses of frontier data-driven technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and their impact on labour and digital rights in Africa and offers the following policy recommendations:

-Strengthen legal recognition for gig workers
-Adopt participatory governance, foresight, and systems approach to policy making
-Address existing structural intersectional inequities
-Consider geopolitics of global AI governance and digital rights

The DepHUB's Shamira Ahmed is a primary contributor to this Policy Brief.