Precarious labour: what do platform workers and artists have in common?

Conversation with Kaire Holts

Wednesday, 21 October 18:00-19:30

@Kartul, Kopli 16, Tallinn

What do freelance cultural workers have in common with precarious workers in other economic sectors? Does platform economy signify freedom and flexibility of self-employment or new forms of exploitation? Do couriers and drivers working in the platform economy experience similar difficulties as freelance creative workers in relation to social security, health insurance, unemployment benefits and pension? How can precarious workers cooperate, unionise and develop collective forms of power?

The evening starts with a presentation by labour sociologist Kaire Holts who will present key findings from her research on the working lives of platform workers in Estonia. The talk is followed by a short comment by art worker Airi Triisberg who will discuss the commonalities and differences between artistic labour and platform economy. The event concludes with an open discussion about potential organising strategies and workers’ alliances across different sectors.

Kaire Holts is a labour sociologist whose work spans virtual/digital labour, platform economy, worker organisation, and social protection. She has (co-)authored several studies on platform economy, such as “The Platformisation of Work in Europe” (2019), “Platvormitöö tegijate organiseerumine Eestis” [The Collective Organising Practices of Platform Workers in Estonia] (2022) and “Impacts and future directions of platform work in Estonia” (2026).

Airi Triisberg is an independent writer, curator, educator and labour organiser. They publish articles in Estonian cultural media, addressing problems related to precarious labour in the cultural sector, and contribute to advocacy work for fair pay and social security. In 2015, they published “Art Workers – Material Conditions and Labour Struggles in Contemporary Art Practice” together with Minna Henriksson and Erik Krikortz, this book conceptualises practices of art workers’ organising in Europe. In 2022, they published “A Proposal for Fair Pay” together with Maarin Ektermann, this proposal was based on numerous group interviews with art workers in Estonia.

Entry is free, conversation language is English.

Illustration by Nadya Tjuška.