May the Fourth be With You.

Work and Platforms

Thanks for your kindness and support. As we continue to focus on role of digital technologies in transforming human life, I would like to continue to highlight the innovations which have helped us survive and in fact do better. And of course, the platforms are going to play an extraordinary role in this transformation.

This week has been about detox- mental, physical and tech. More about it later.

DTW

During the Week, International Labour Day, also known as May Day, was celebrated to addresses current issues and challenges faced by workers globally. This year themes deals with impacts of climate change on workplace safety and occupational health including climate-related hazards such as heat stress, air pollution, natural disasters, and vector-borne diseases. There is also an increasing need and focus on employers to create more resilient work environments for the workers to safeguard the well-being of workers, and build a sustainable future for all.

I take immense pride in celebrating the achievements of our esteemed alum, Jignesh Patel, who is currently the Founder and CEO of Jivika Healthcare. Under his leadership, Jivika Healthcare has launched groundbreaking initiatives focused on worker welfare through innovative health programs. The introduction of the Vaccination on Wheels service is a testament to Jignesh's dedication to improving public health and ensuring the well-being of workers. By providing accessible and hassle-free vaccinations directly to people's doorsteps, Jignesh and his team are making significant strides in enhancing community health and safety.

In the era of digital platforms, workers' roles and working conditions have undergone significant transformations. Platforms have become integral in defining the nature of work, impacting everything from job flexibility to worker rights. As workers navigate this evolving landscape, it's crucial to examine how platforms shape their experiences, opportunities, and challenges. Understanding the intricate relationship between platforms and workers is essential for fostering a fair and sustainable work environment in today's dynamic and interconnected world. We could use the LABOUR framework to capture the role of platforms to enrich and enhance the labour productivity.

L - Livelihood Opportunities: Platforms provide diverse opportunities for people to earn a livelihood, offering flexibility and accessibility to work from anywhere.

A - Access to Markets: Platforms connect workers with a global market, allowing them to showcase their skills and services to a wider audience.

B - Benefits and Protections: Platforms should ensure that workers receive fair benefits, protections, and rights, including fair wages, insurance, and safe working conditions.

O - Opportunities for Upskilling: Platforms can offer opportunities for continuous learning and upskilling, enabling workers to enhance their capabilities and stay competitive in the evolving job market.

U - Uniting Workers: Platforms can unite workers globally, fostering collaboration, solidarity, and collective bargaining power to advocate for better working conditions.

R - Remote Work Revolution: Platforms have facilitated a remote work revolution, allowing people to work from home or any location with internet access, promoting work-life balance and flexibility.

I have often discussed about the power of “optionality”- limited downside but potentially unlimited upside. Platforms can help us create optionality in career trajectory through learning and networking opportunities. Platforms can potentially help the aspirants solve the long tail problem of matching rare careers to equally rare opportunities. Social networks for professionals like LinkedIn can spread the word far and wide to connect supply and demand.

Additionally, Platforms and Labour could be viewed from changing nature of work on and through platforms. Platforms have transformed the world of work. I have written about Blue Collar Worker, Creative Class , Career choices , Creating Networks and Work Life Balance in previous editions. Do check them out.

OTW

Over the Weekend, I caught up with family and friends in Dehradun after completing my annual summer trek in Garhwal Himalayas. This summer , we explored the Chenap Bugyal near Joshimath and the experience was incredible. The hospitality of the dwellers in local hamlets and shepherds in the meadows is a lesson in humility and large heartedness for rest of us.

Of course, many of these days were very uncertain , extremely arduous, and at times unpleasant. It also meant facing and solving problem after problem but let me tell you that some of these may have been the most meaningful days I may ever live.

I often remember a quote from an interesting movie titled “Into the Wild”. The lead character Christopher McCandless perhaps quotes Tolstoy and says “If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed”.

Let me leave you with these beautiful lines by one of the most humane poet.

सफ़र में धूप तो होगी जो चल सको तो चलो

सभी हैं भीड़ में तुम भी निकल सको तो चलो

किसी के वास्ते राहें कहाँ बदलती हैं

तुम अपने आप को ख़ुद ही बदल सको तो चलो

यहाँ किसी को कोई रास्ता नहीं देता

मुझे गिरा के अगर तुम सँभल सको तो चलो

कहीं नहीं कोई सूरज धुआँ धुआँ है फ़ज़ा

ख़ुद अपने आप से बाहर निकल सको तो चलो

यही है ज़िंदगी कुछ ख़्वाब चंद उम्मीदें

इन्हीं खिलौनों से तुम भी बहल सको तो चलो

=निदा फ़ाज़ली

And please remember that there is no ‘How or When do I do it’ there is only ‘if I would do it ‘ !

I Love You

Shailendra

PS- Here is my favourite glimpse of Nanda Devi during the recently concluded trek.

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