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About
Part of my broader interest in the way vulnerable actors become competent members of uncertain environments, GIGRISK-KW examines how newcomer and immigrant food-delivery workers accomplish membership in a precarious workforce. Whereas GIGRISK-Brussels places emphasis on gender and navigational risk perceptions, GIGRISK-KW examines how newcomer and immigrant workers become recognizable as competent participants in a precarious workforce through the practical accomplishment of delivery work.
GIGRISK-KW also contributes to a broader research agenda on delivery work across different urban environments. Whereas GIGRISK-Brussels examines delivery work in a dense European setting where cycle logistics and cooperative delivery models are more established, GIGRISK-KW focuses on a predominantly car-based delivery environment.
GIGRISK-KW looks at the practices through which newcomer and immigrant food-delivery workers make sense of their environment and become recognizable as competent members of a precarious workforce. These include the routine methods workers use to navigate risk, uncertainty, and the practical demands of platform-mediated delivery work in a predominantly car-based environment.
GIGRISK-KW also contributes to a broader research agenda on delivery work across different urban environments. Whereas GIGRISK-Brussels examines delivery work in a dense European setting where cycle logistics and cooperative delivery models are more established, GIGRISK-KW focuses on a predominantly car-based delivery environment.
GIGRISK-KW looks at the practices through which newcomer and immigrant food-delivery workers make sense of their environment and become recognizable as competent members of a precarious workforce. These include the routine methods workers use to navigate risk, uncertainty, and the practical demands of platform-mediated delivery work in a predominantly car-based environment.
Purpose
GIGRISK-KW explores how app-based food-delivery work is organized in a mid-sized Canadian city where deliveries are predominantly performed by car. In doing so, it provides a useful point of comparison with GIGRISK-Brussels and creates an opportunity to examine how different urban environments shape delivery work and experiences of risk.
Urban form and delivery work
GIGRISK-KW will contribute to understanding how urban form shapes delivery practices, navigation, and experiences of risk. It aims to provide answers to questions such as:
- How does courier work differ when deliveries are primarily car-based rather than bicycle-based?
- How do navigation practices change?
- How do workers assess and manage risk differently?
Research Questions
How do newcomer and immigrant food-delivery workers accomplish labour-market integration through the everyday practices of navigating uncertainty, risk, and platform-mediated work?
Sub-questions:
How do newcomer and immigrant workers learn the local geographies needed to navigate the city?
How do workers establish stable work routines and sources of income in platform-based work?
How do workers become recognizable as competent delivery workers and members of the local economy?
Sub-questions:
How do newcomer and immigrant workers learn the local geographies needed to navigate the city?
How do workers establish stable work routines and sources of income in platform-based work?
How do workers become recognizable as competent delivery workers and members of the local economy?
Funding Scheme
Duration:
May 2028 to September 2028
Funding Mechanism:
MITACS Accelerate
Proposed Partnership:
Research partnership with equal cash contributions of $7,500 CAD from the partner organization and MITACS.
May 2028 to September 2028
Funding Mechanism:
MITACS Accelerate
Proposed Partnership:
Research partnership with equal cash contributions of $7,500 CAD from the partner organization and MITACS.