Exploring labour transformations in platform work through the lens of informal work: a new framework of analysis

In this article, we aim to propose a new analytical framework for examining (in)formal work and its transformations induced by digital labour platforms (DLPs). The analytical framework consists of four core principles that, in our opinion, should always be present in the analysis of platform work and informal work: (1) the need to move beyond the binary distinction between formal and informal work by adopting a hybridization-of-work perspective; (2) the importance of clarifying how informality is defined; (3) the need to consider informal work as an integral component of broader labour transformations; and (4) the importance of fostering dialogue between the global North and the global South. We also identify three central dimensions of analysis: the individual perspective, the relational dynamics and the role of institutions in shaping informality. While each of these dimensions offers valuable insights on its own, it is crucial to take into account how they interact.