The employment rights typically linked to the conventional theory of the employment relationship, which is fundamentally grounded in the legal framework of employment, have hindered gig workers from qualifying for essential employment rights, including access to minimum wage, social security protection schemes, and collective bargaining rights. It also means that the concept of employment relationship has narrowed down the scope of employment law, which is argued by some scholars to be against the established theoretical framework that initially shaped the labour law itself. Hence, this study examines theoretical perspectives to assess their support or opposition to the extension of employment rights for gig workers. This qualitative study employs a doctrinal method that mainly involves an evaluation of legal and non-legal sources, including law reports, statutory provisions, journal articles, government reports, and newspapers. The authors found that both traditional theory and contemporary theories like human rights and justice theory fundamentally support the extension of employment rights to gig workers, despite the limitations associated with the employment relationship principle. The study provides theoretical insights concerning the status and rights of gig workers in general.
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