PLATFORM GIG WORKERS AND ISLAMIC ECONOMIC JUSTICE: A STUDY ON ‘UJRAH’ (WAGES) AND SOCIAL PROTECTION IN THE DIGITAL ERA
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Gig Economy, Islamic Economic Justice, Ujrah
Abstract
The rise of platform-based gig work has transformed global labour markets, creating flexible income opportunities while simultaneously generating new forms of economic vulnerability. Gig workers operating through digital platforms frequently experience unstable earnings, opaque wage mechanisms, and limited access to social protection. From the perspective of Islamic economic justice, these conditions raise important questions concerning ‘ujrah (fair wages), contractual transparency, and the moral obligations of employers in the digital economy. Islamic jurisprudence emphasizes fairness, mutual consent, and the protection of worker welfare, making the gig economy a crucial site for examining the alignment between emerging labour structures and Islamic ethical principles. This study aims to analyze wage practices and social protection mechanisms in the platform gig economy through the lens of Islamic economic justice, with a particular focus on the concept of ‘ujrah. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, combining document analysis of platform policies, regulatory frameworks, and fatwas with semi-structured interviews involving 25 gig workers from various digital platforms. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of perceived fairness, wage stability, and worker vulnerability. The findings reveal significant gaps between Islamic principles of just compensation and current platform wage systems. Many gig workers report unpredictable earnings, unilateral algorithmic decision-making, and insufficient contractual clarity—conditions that contradict the Islamic requirements of transparency, consent, and wage adequacy. The study also identifies minimal access to social safety nets, despite Islamic law’s emphasis on collective responsibility and the safeguarding of vulnerable workers. The study concludes that the digital gig economy requires ethical recalibration based on Islamic principles to ensure fair wages, transparent contracts, and equitable access to social protection. The findings highlight the need for policy innovation and platform accountability grounded in Islamic moral-economic values.
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