PLATFORM JUSTICE IN THE GIG ECONOMY: AN ANALYSIS OF UJRAH (WAGES) AND CONTRACTUAL ETHICS IN SHARIAH-COMPLIANT RIDE-HAILING
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Gig Economy, Islamic Contract Law, Ride-Hailing Ethics
Abstract
The rapid growth of the gig economy, particularly through ride-hailing platforms, has reshaped labor relations through digitally mediated and flexible contracts. While these platforms expand income opportunities, they also generate concerns over wage fairness, contractual transparency, and power imbalances between workers and platform operators. In Muslim-majority settings, such issues intersect with Islamic legal principles governing ujrah (wages), akad (contracts), and ethical conduct. This study examines how Shariah-compliant ride-hailing models can ensure justice, fairness, and mutual benefit in platform-based labor. Using a qualitative design, the research analyzes platform policies, semi-structured interviews with drivers, Shariah scholars, and platform administrators, and thematic coding of contractual provisions. A comparative approach is applied to evaluate conventional and Shariah-compliant platforms in relation to core Islamic principles, including ridh? (mutual consent), fairness in ujrah, and the avoidance of gharar (uncertainty). The findings show that although some platforms provide transparent wage systems, significant gaps remain in information disclosure, dispute resolution, and risk allocation. In contrast, Shariah-compliant models demonstrate stronger ethical safeguards, particularly through clearer contractual terms and more equitable revenue-sharing mechanisms. The study concludes that integrating Islamic contractual ethics can enhance platform justice, protect driver welfare, and support more sustainable and morally grounded gig-economy practices.
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