Digital Occupational Safety the Legal Responsibility of App-Based Companies Regarding the Occupational Health and Safety of Online Transport Drivers
Keywords:
Digital Occupational Safety, App-Based Companies, Legal Responsibility, Occupational Health and SafetyAbstract
The rapid expansion of the gig economy has reshaped conventional labor relationships, particularly within the online transportation sector, where drivers face distinct physical and psychological occupational hazards. Despite these risks, app-based companies frequently classify drivers as independent "partners" rather than formal employees, creating a legal ambiguity regarding corporate obligations toward Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). This study examines the legal responsibility of app-based companies in guaranteeing OHS protections for online transport drivers under current labor law frameworks. Employing a normative legal research methodology with statutory and conceptual approaches, this paper analyzes statutory regulations, legal doctrines, and partnership agreements governing digital platform work. The findings indicate that existing labor laws inadequately safeguard gig workers due to rigid traditional definitions of employment relationships based on subjection and wages. Consequently, platform companies effectively transfer operational risks onto drivers while evading mandatory OHS duties. This paper concludes that legal reform is imperative to reconstruct the legal framework of work relationships and establish statutory OHS liability for platform companies to ensure comprehensive protection for digital transport workers.
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