United States of America: Published FTC Policy Statement on Enforcement Related to Gig Work

On 15 September 2022, the Federal Trade Commission published a "Policy Statement on Enforcement Related to Gig Work". The Statement outlines various issues concerning gig workers, such as unfair contract terms, anti-competitive coordination between gig economy companies and wage fixing or deception. The FTC specify the following potential harms to workers: nature of gig work misrepresentations, limited bargaining power, and concentrated markets. On the other side, the FTC specifies that such unfair practices may also harm consumers, for instance as regards the companies' lack of accountability on claims about gig work costs and benefits and the use of unfair methods of competition.