Monday, October 02, 2017, 15:00 - 16:00
"The Sharing Economy in Japan"
The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with interpretation
The rise of taxi-hailing app Uber and other companies in the so-called "sharing economy" has been one of the biggest social and business stories in recent years. Made possible by mobile phones and the internet, it offers a whole new way to organise economic activity, making it possible to share your car or apartment with other people via the coordinating power of technology.
But a change so disruptive has raised a host of issues and concerns including the use of apps to circumvent regulation on taxi drivers or hotels; the resulting "gig economy" of casually self-employed drivers who lack the protections of regular work; and the market power of apps that make it hard for new entrants to compete. As a result, Japan has been notably slow to embrace the sharing economy, although the Abe administration is keen to help it grow. Uber's activities in Japan remain limited.
Our speakers today will talk about the issues raised for workers by the sharing economy. Bhairavi Desai is president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a 19,000-member union that represents taxi drives in New York City, including drivers for Uber and Lyft. Diogenes Carrasco has been driving with Uber since 2014. Along with five other NYTWA members, he has filed suit against Uber for various labour law violations. Kento Suzuki, meanwhile, is a delivery partner for UberEATS working in Tokyo.
Please join us to learn about the impact of the sharing economy as Japan considers initiatives for further legalization and development of the sector in the future.
Please reserve in advance, 3211-3161 or on the website (still & TV cameras inclusive). Reservations and cancellations are not complete without confirmation.
Professional Activities Committee
Bhairavi Drsai Diogenes Carrasco Kento Kwai