Martijn Arets

    Explores the impact of platforms on people and society.

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    Who is Martijn Arets?

    What impact does the platform economy have on people, organizations and society? 

    My fascination for this question started in 2012. Since then, I seek answers by talking to all stakeholders involved, conducting research and participating in the public debate. I always do this out of curiosity and my role as an independent professional outsider.

    I share my insights through my newsletter, presentations, (academic) publications and contributions in (international) media. I also wrote several books on the topic and am founder of GigCV, a new data sharing standard to give platform workers access to their own CV data. I work as a bridge-builder within (international) research teams and am affiliated with the WageIndicator Foundationand the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. As an external PhD candidate at Utrecht University, I am currently working on  my doctoral thesis, ‘Essays in the Empowerment of Gig Workers’.

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    BOOK

    Platform Revolution – From Amazon to Zalando, the impact of platforms on how we work and live

    Platforms like Amazon, Uber and Booking.com, with their exponential growth capacity and unorthodox strategies, are having considerable impact. They affect people, organisations and society in various ways. What can other organizations learn from this? What makes these kinds of companies different? How can we as a society benefit from this development? And how can organizations and governments use platforms to reach their goals and customers?

    With these questions in my pocket, I made 60 travels to 17 countries, where I spoke to over 600 stakeholders. In the Dutch book Platform Revolution, I talk about the most important developments, dilemmas and opportunities and outline a vision of the future.

    BLOGS

    Radio interview about the court ruling in the case between FNV and Temper

    June 18, 2026 / Martijn Arets
    Are the tens of thousands of workers who find day jobs via the Temper platform freelancers or temp agency workers? This is the question that has been on everyone’s minds
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    New international agreements aim to make platform work more future-proof

    June 16, 2026 / Martijn Arets
    From 1 to 12 June, representatives of workers, platform companies and governments from around the world will gather in Geneva at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to discuss an international
    Lees verder..

    What an Australian union teaches us about regulating platform work

    May 29, 2026 / Martijn Arets
    Over the years, I have had countless discussions about, and conducted research into, platform work. The conversation often revolves around the same question: are platform workers employees or self-employed workers?
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    Lena Simet (Human Rights Watch) on platform work: From turbo-capitalism to just working conditions

    April 13, 2026 / Martijn Arets
    Lena Simet (Human Rights Watch) on platform work: From turbo-capitalism to just working conditions In The Gig Work Podcast by the WageIndicator Foundation, Martijn Arets talks to Lena Simet from
    Lees verder..

    Survival versus perspective? ‘It’s not about money, but about taking responsibility’

    October 24, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    In the discussion about platform work, I keep bumping into a big dilemma. Online platforms offer a fast -access solution for work and income in the short term. At the
    Lees verder..

    The role of social partners in the use of AI at work

    October 23, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    Last week, I had the opportunity to contribute to a seminar organised by the International Society for Labour and Social Security Law in collaboration with the Levenbach Institute. The theme
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    This is what I learnt during the event ‘Ghostwork, the invisible labor behind AI’.

    October 21, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    Last week, together with Tessa Duzee, I organised the event “Ghostwork, the invisible labour behind AI” at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. The aim was to raise awareness of the fact
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    From Bologna to Big Tech: critical lessons about data work and AI

    September 18, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    Last week, the 8th conference of the ‘International Network of Digital Labor’ took place in Bologna. This network’s mission is to research and discuss aspects of work in the digital age.
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    Data as the gateway to financial services for platform workers

    August 6, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    Rollee makes it easier for platform workers to access financing. Until now, it has been difficult to obtain a loan without a steady monthly income. Lenders want a clear picture
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    Data Labelers Association speaks up for invisible workers: “Ultimately, it’s about respect and human decency.”

    July 6, 2025 / Martijn Arets
    What are the advantages, disadvantages and challenges of data work? Who are the people who annotate and correct the data behind AI (so-called “data workers” or “data labelers”)? In the
    Lees verder..

    NEWSLETTER

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    Stay up to date with what’s happening in the platform economy through my newsletter. 

    You can subscribe for free following this link to my newsletter website.

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    NEWSLETTERS

    Algorithmic gamblification of work | The workers behind the ‘AI magic’ | New Airbnb regulation

    February 23, 2023 / Martijn Arets
    Algorithmic gamblification of work | The workers behind the 'AI magic' | New Airbnb regulation
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    Algorithmic gamblification of work | The workers behind the ‘AI magic’ | New Airbnb regulation

    February 23, 2023 / Martijn Arets
    Good day! One minute you get a newsletter in your mailbox every week and the next you have to wait 3 weeks for it. As someone who loves surprises, I
    Lees verder..

    11,000 GigCV downloads! | Will the platform directive make a difference? | NYC Platform Cooperative | How India tries to ‘democratize’ shopping

    February 2, 2023 / Martijn Arets
    Good day! Last week, I posted my newsletter about the platform economy for the first time in a long time and I received a lots of nice reactions. Although I
    Lees verder..

    How Helpling’s bankruptcy exposes the flaws of the debate on the gig economy.

    January 26, 2023 / Martijn Arets
    Good day! It has been silent for a while around the English version my newsletter on the platform economy. Whereas the Dutch edition appeared weekly and is now on its
    Lees verder..

    Martijn Arets

    “I am always looking for opportunities for online platforms to have a positive impact on all stakeholders involved. The impact, whether positive or negative, is always the result of the choices that are made.”

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