Key findings from the seminar on platform capitalism and migrant work

The University of Barcelona, in collaboration with CIDOB Think Tank and the Horizon Europe research project DignityFIRM, has published a report summarizing the conclusions of the meeting titled “Platform Capitalism, Migrant Labor and Urban Space”, held on June 5, 2025.

The event was one of the main activities of INCA’s Open Innovation Laboratory (OIL), located in Barcelona. Around thirty experts, professionals, and stakeholders from the sector gathered to discuss and reflect on the future of the platform economy, resulting in several interesting conclusions presented in the report.

The publication addresses three main areas: the relationship between the platform economy and migrant labor, the changes these platforms generate in urban space, and alternatives within the sector.

Regarding migrant labor, it mentions extreme precariousness, irregularity, and legal insecurity; practices such as account renting, bogus self-employment, and illegal subcontracting; and the lack of social protection, unstable wages, and discrimination. This situation is described as “exclusive inclusion,” meaning economic access without social integration.

Concerning cities, the report analyzes how the presence of delivery riders and the associated urban logistics can create tensions in the use of public space and what measures or regulations are being explored to manage them.

Finally, in the section on alternatives it presents examples of cooperatives, such as Les Mercedes, Mensakas, and Som Ecologística, which aim to offer fairer and more sustainable work models within the sector.

The report emphasizes that there is no single solution, but shared principles can guide progress toward a model in which digital innovation, social justice, and urban sustainability can coexist.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest