eie73hrhdje
Removing labor options by force weakens the position of low skill workers because it limits how many interests are competing for their attention (labor demand). There is nothing inherently disrespectful about independent contractor work, it's simply another option in a wider pool of choices. What is disrespectful is suggesting that these people are just to dim to see that they're being exploited rather than acknowledging that perhaps the reason they don't care about the benefits of regular work is because a job that fits into their current life situation is more valuable than the other options they looked at.
You mean like respecting their decision to engage in gig work despite every other available option? That kind of dignity?
The whole issue is pretty rich coming from California. If people are struggling the answer is never that the cost of living is too high due to rediculous zoning and environmental regulations, clearly it's the greedy companies that are the problem. The whole living wage issue in California reeks of doing every gymnastic available to avoid political introspection that might lead to admitting a lot of well intentioned things aren't working.
Never mind that the state suddenly becomes mute about living wages when discussing its many illegal immigrants who work for /below/ the minimum wage. We apparently don't talk about that because leeching off desperate individuals "is complicated" and something that only companies do. If a large number of workers prefer gig work the problem isn't that they aren't making enough money the problem is that catering to them would undermine all of the previous "benefits" that they obviously don't view as a priority in their current situation. Heaven forbid that we let the actual workers decide how they want to associate.