Social justice: people need to become other-centred

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the capitalist global market economic system is failing. This system has failed because it did not bring about social justice but instead promoted I,  ME and MY egocentric policy which gave priority to selfishness, self-centredness and self-interest. Even in communist countries before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, there was little or no socialism. Instead, the ruling class used their power to make themselves wealthy, and what we saw in those countries was to a greater extent state capitalism. 

Next month, the United Nations marks the World Day of Social Justice in this era of the digital economy. In a statement, the UN says the digital economy is transforming the world of work. Over the past decade, expansion in broadband connectivity, cloud computing, and data have led to the proliferation of digital platforms, which have penetrated several sectors of the economy and societies. Since early 2020, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to remote working arrangements and allowed for the continuation of many business activities, further reinforcing the growth and impact of the digital economy. The crisis has also laid bare and exacerbated the growing digital divide within, between and across developed and developing countries, particularly in terms of the availability, affordability and use of information ICTs and access to the internet, deepening existing inequalities.

According to the UN, while digital labour platforms provide workers with income-generating opportunities and benefits from flexible work arrangements, including for women, people with disabilities, young people, and migrant workers, they also present some challenges. For workers, these relate to the regularity of work and income, their rights to fair working conditions, social protection and adequate standard of living, skills utilization, and the right to form or join trade unions. Algorithmic monitoring practices, in some cases augmenting workplace surveillance, are also a growing concern. Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are exposing the risks and inequalities of workers engaged in location-based platforms. For traditional businesses, the challenges include unfair competition from platforms, some of which are not subject to conventional taxation and other obligations because of their novel nature, including with respect to their workforce. Another challenge for traditional businesses is the amount of funding required to continuously adapt to digital transformations, especially for small and medium enterprises, and inadequate availability of reliable digital infrastructure, in the global South.

The regulatory responses from many countries have started to address some of the issues related to working conditions on digital labour platforms. However, there is a need for international policy dialogue and coordination since digital labour platforms operate across multiple jurisdictions. The promotion of national, regional, and international multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and coordination is also vital to ensure regulatory certainty and the applicability of universal labour standards, given the diversity of responses by countries and platform companies.

Referring to transformations, especially for small and medium enterprises, and inadequate availability of reliable digital infrastructure, in particular in the global South, the UN says the regulatory responses from many countries have started to address some of the issues related to working conditions on digital labour platforms. However, there is a need for international policy dialogue and coordination since digital labour platforms operate across multiple jurisdictions. The promotion of national, regional, and international multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and coordination is also vital to ensure regulatory certainty and the applicability of universal labour standards, given the diversity of responses by countries and platform companies.

This year’s commemoration supports efforts by the international community to search for solutions to achieve sustainable development, poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, universal social protection, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all. Consequently, it aims at fostering dialogue with member States and relevant UN institutions and other stakeholders on actions needed to overcome the digital divide, provide decent work opportunities, and protect labour and human rights in the modern era of digital technologies.

What is the situation in Sri Lanka?  Names are just names. We refer to our country as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Are we democratic?  With the passing of the 20th Amendment, Parliament’s powers have been reduced to a large extent and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the power to hire and fire anyone at any time. With social justice analysts expressing fears of growing trends toward the militarisation of the Government, the other two pillars of democracy—the judiciary and the free media—are also facing dangers and threats. In such a crisis the people need to act as responsible citizens and work independently in vital social justice areas such as poverty alleviation, the battle against climate change and the need to settle issues peacefully through dialogue and not through wars or militarization. As American author and disability rights advocate Helen Keller has said, until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other’s welfare, social justice cannot be attained.