Technological Support, Hybrid Work, and National Employment Policies: Catalysts for Worker Productivity and SDG 8 Achievement in Indonesia’s Gig Economy
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Vol. 20 No. 1 (2025)
Keywords:
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Gig Worker, Hybrid Work, National Employment Policy, SDG 8, Technology Support
Abstract
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has reshaped Indonesia’s labor market, with the gig economy emerging as a significant component. This study aims to analyze how technological support, hybrid work models, and national employment policies influence gig workers’ productivity and engagement, and how these factors contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 in Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional quantitative approach, structured questionnaires were distributed to 218 gig workers across various sectors. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify the strength and direction of relationships among key variables: technological support, hybrid working, national employment policy, productivity, engagement, and SDG 8 outcomes. The results show that technological support significantly improves both productivity and engagement, particularly through the availability of digital platforms and real-time work coordination tools. Hybrid work models emerged as the strongest factor influencing worker outcomes, combining flexibility with structured task management. While national employment policies had a positive impact, their effectiveness remains limited due to gaps in legal protection and social inclusion for gig workers. Importantly, the analysis reveals that engagement has a greater impact than productivity in contributing to SDG 8, emphasizing the need to foster a sense of involvement and motivation among gig workers. These findings underline the practical importance of enhancing platform responsibility, promoting digital inclusion, and redesigning employment policies to ensure fair and sustainable working conditions. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and platform providers to better support the evolving nature of gig work in Indonesia.
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References
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Becker, J.-M., Cheah, J.-H., Gholamzade, R., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2023). PLS-SEM’s most wanted guidance. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 35(1), 321–346. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2022-0474
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Hair, J. F., Matthews, L., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMDA.2017.087624
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Kässi, O., & Lehdonvirta, V. (2018). Online labour index: Measuring the online gig economy for policy and research. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 137, 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.07.056
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Kuhn, K. M. (2023). MAKING A GO OF IT IN THE GIG ECONOMY: Understanding Risk in Platform-Based Work. Tackling Precarious Work: Toward Sustainable Livelihoods, 280–301. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003440444-15/MAKING-GO-GIG-ECONOMY-KRISTINE-KUHN
Kurian, J. S., & Bindu Madhavi, N. (2024). Navigating the gig economy: exploring challenges and motivations for the wellbeing of Gen Y and Gen Z gig workers. Cogent Psychology, 11(1), 2357458. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2024.2357458
Lang, J. J., Yang, L. F., Cheng, C., Cheng, X. Y., & Chen, F. Y. (2023). Are algorithmically controlled gig workers deeply burned out? An empirical study on employee work engagement. BMC Psychology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01402-0
Legate, A. E., Hair Jr, J. F., Chretien, J. L., & Risher, J. J. (2023). PLS-SEM: Prediction-oriented solutions for HRD researchers. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 34(1), 91–109. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21466
Low, M. P., Seah, C. Sen, Khin, A. A., & Har, W. M. (2024). Unveiling the upsides of low-skilled physical gig work: insights from the gig workers’ perspective in Malaysia. Labour and Industry, 34(2), 197–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/10301763.2024.2357896
Moen, B. E., Nyarubeli, I. P., Tungu, A. M., Ngowi, A. V, Kumie, A., Deressa, W., & Mamuya, S. H. D. (2020). The Challenge of Obtaining a Decent Work Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Sustainable Development Goals Series: Vol. Part F2651 (pp. 155–164). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14857-7_15
Montgomery, T., & Baglioni, S. (2021). Defining the gig economy: platform capitalism and the reinvention of precarious work. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 41(9–10), 1012–1025. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-08-2020-0400
Muhyiddin, M., Annazah, N. S., Henriko Tobing, H., Habibi, N., Fauziyah, F., & Harsiwie, R. I. P. (2024). The Ambiguity of Employment Relationship in Indonesia’s Gig Economy: A Study of Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 19(3), 262–280. https://doi.org/10.47198/jnaker.v19i3.416
Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Moisescu, O. I., & Radomir, L. (2019). Structural model robustness checks in PLS-SEM. Tourism Economics, 26(4), 531–554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816618823921
Sfetcu, L. (2024). Strategies for Sustainable Growth and Decent Work in the Platform Economy. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 66, 347–353.
Singla, N., Sood, K., Grima, S., & Yadav, U. S. (2023). Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote a safe working environment. In The Impact of Climate Change and Sustainability Standards on the Insurance Market (pp. 373–392). https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85168564677&partnerID=40&md5=94d88aa4e4c3fe08ec7726c7faf08713
Sudirman, L., & Disemadi, H. S. (2023). Gig Economy: Unleashing the Potential of Digital Banking in Indonesia’s Employment Regulations. Lentera Hukum, 10(2), 301–330. https://doi.org/10.19184/ejlh.v10i2.39688
Tariq, A., Sumbal, M. S. U. K., Dabi?, M., Raziq, M. M., & Torkkeli, M. (2024). Interlinking networking capabilities, knowledge worker productivity, and digital innovation: a critical nexus for sustainable performance in small and medium enterprises. Journal of Knowledge Management, 28(11), 179–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-09-2023-0788
Taylor, J., Joshi, K. D., Saldanha, T., & Sahaym, A. (2024). Procuring services through IT crowdsourcing: The role of IT administration and IT flexibility. Journal of Information Technology, 39(2), 288–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/02683962231225469
Universitas Airlangga. (2024). Kuliah Umum UNAIR-Kemnaker, Kenalkan Fenomena Gig Economy - Universitas Airlangga Official Website. https://unair.ac.id/kuliah-umum-unair-kemnaker-kenalkan-fenomena-gig-economy/
Utami, M. C., Rosyada, D., Suryani, E., Hakiem, N., & Saepudin, D. (2023). The SEM-PLS Analysis for Testing Questionnaire: Software Developer Productivity Based on Religiosity and Work Behavior. 2023 11th International Conference on Cyber and IT Service Management, CITSM 2023. https://doi.org/10.1109/CITSM60085.2023.10455692
Webster, N. A., & Zhang, Q. (2025). Strategic silences for normative work: Inclusions and exclusions of migrant labour in policy foregrounding of the Swedish gig economy. Geoforum, 158, 104157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2024.104157
Yang, K., Zhou, L., Wang, Z., Lin, C., & Luo, Z. (2019). Humble leadership and innovative behaviour among Chinese nurses: The mediating role of work engagement. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(8), 1801–1808. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12879
Z News. (2024). Menghadapi Ledakan Pekerja Sektor Informal di Era Ekonomi Gig - ZNEWS. https://znews.id/menghadapi-ledakan-pekerja-sektor-informal-di-era-ekonomi-gig/
Zhang, P. (2024). Training for gig workers: a systematic review and research agenda. Learning Organization, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-10-2022-0124/FULL/XML
Bakas, F., & Salman, D. (2024). ‘You ensure your own safety’: gender, fear and tourism labour in the gig economy in Turkiye. Gender, Place and Culture, 31(8), 1072–1094. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2024.2327999
Batmunkh, A., Fekete-Farkas, M., & Lakner, Z. (2022). Bibliometric Analysis of Gig Economy. Administrative Sciences, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12020051
Becker, J.-M., Cheah, J.-H., Gholamzade, R., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2023). PLS-SEM’s most wanted guidance. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 35(1), 321–346. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2022-0474
Bögenhold, D., Klinglmair, R., & Kandutsch, F. (2017). Solo-self-employment, human capital and hybrid labour in the gig economy. Foresight and STI Governance, 11(4), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2017.4.23.32
Chigbu, B. I., & Nekhwevha, F. (2023). Exploring the concepts of decent work through the lens of SDG 8: addressing challenges and inadequacies. Frontiers in Sociology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1266141
CNN Indonesia. (2024). Ekonom Sebut UU Cipta Kerja Buatan Jokowi Bisa Perparah Gig Economy. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/ekonomi/20240920104607-532-1146347/ekonom-sebut-uu-cipta-kerja-buatan-jokowi-bisa-perparah-gig-economy
Dobrosotskiy, V. I., Semenova, G. N., & Kripakova, L. A. (2021). The culture of digital society and the economy of pleasure: A new paradigm of socio-economic progress of developing countries in industry 4.0. International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 14(4–5), 432–440. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTGM.2021.116738
Fuster Morell, M., Espelt, R., & Renau Cano, M. (2020). Sustainable Platform Economy: Connections with the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 12(18), 7640. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187640
Gleim, M. R., Johnson, C. M., & Lawson, S. J. (2019). Sharers and sellers: A multi-group examination of gig economy workers’ perceptions. Journal of Business Research, 98, 142–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.041
Guenther, P., Guenther, M., Ringle, C. M., Zaefarian, G., & Cartwright, S. (2023). Improving PLS-SEM use for business marketing research. Industrial Marketing Management, 111, 127–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2023.03.010
Hair, J. F., Astrachan, C. B., Moisescu, O. I., Radomir, L., Sarstedt, M., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2021). Executing and interpreting applications of PLS-SEM: Updates for family business researchers. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2020.100392
Hair, J. F., Matthews, L., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMDA.2017.087624
Hsieh, J., Adisa, O., Bafna, S., & Zhu, H. (2023). Designing Individualized Policy and Technology Interventions to Improve Gig Work Conditions. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3596671.3598576
Kässi, O., & Lehdonvirta, V. (2018). Online labour index: Measuring the online gig economy for policy and research. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 137, 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.07.056
Keith, M. G., Harms, P. D., & Long, A. C. (2020). WORKER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE GIG ECONOMY: A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH AGENDA. Research in Occupational Stress and Well Being, 18, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-355520200000018002
Kuhn, K. M. (2023). MAKING A GO OF IT IN THE GIG ECONOMY: Understanding Risk in Platform-Based Work. Tackling Precarious Work: Toward Sustainable Livelihoods, 280–301. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003440444-15/MAKING-GO-GIG-ECONOMY-KRISTINE-KUHN
Kurian, J. S., & Bindu Madhavi, N. (2024). Navigating the gig economy: exploring challenges and motivations for the wellbeing of Gen Y and Gen Z gig workers. Cogent Psychology, 11(1), 2357458. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2024.2357458
Lang, J. J., Yang, L. F., Cheng, C., Cheng, X. Y., & Chen, F. Y. (2023). Are algorithmically controlled gig workers deeply burned out? An empirical study on employee work engagement. BMC Psychology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01402-0
Legate, A. E., Hair Jr, J. F., Chretien, J. L., & Risher, J. J. (2023). PLS-SEM: Prediction-oriented solutions for HRD researchers. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 34(1), 91–109. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21466
Low, M. P., Seah, C. Sen, Khin, A. A., & Har, W. M. (2024). Unveiling the upsides of low-skilled physical gig work: insights from the gig workers’ perspective in Malaysia. Labour and Industry, 34(2), 197–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/10301763.2024.2357896
Moen, B. E., Nyarubeli, I. P., Tungu, A. M., Ngowi, A. V, Kumie, A., Deressa, W., & Mamuya, S. H. D. (2020). The Challenge of Obtaining a Decent Work Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Sustainable Development Goals Series: Vol. Part F2651 (pp. 155–164). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14857-7_15
Montgomery, T., & Baglioni, S. (2021). Defining the gig economy: platform capitalism and the reinvention of precarious work. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 41(9–10), 1012–1025. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-08-2020-0400
Muhyiddin, M., Annazah, N. S., Henriko Tobing, H., Habibi, N., Fauziyah, F., & Harsiwie, R. I. P. (2024). The Ambiguity of Employment Relationship in Indonesia’s Gig Economy: A Study of Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 19(3), 262–280. https://doi.org/10.47198/jnaker.v19i3.416
Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Moisescu, O. I., & Radomir, L. (2019). Structural model robustness checks in PLS-SEM. Tourism Economics, 26(4), 531–554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816618823921
Sfetcu, L. (2024). Strategies for Sustainable Growth and Decent Work in the Platform Economy. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 66, 347–353.
Singla, N., Sood, K., Grima, S., & Yadav, U. S. (2023). Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote a safe working environment. In The Impact of Climate Change and Sustainability Standards on the Insurance Market (pp. 373–392). https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85168564677&partnerID=40&md5=94d88aa4e4c3fe08ec7726c7faf08713
Sudirman, L., & Disemadi, H. S. (2023). Gig Economy: Unleashing the Potential of Digital Banking in Indonesia’s Employment Regulations. Lentera Hukum, 10(2), 301–330. https://doi.org/10.19184/ejlh.v10i2.39688
Tariq, A., Sumbal, M. S. U. K., Dabi?, M., Raziq, M. M., & Torkkeli, M. (2024). Interlinking networking capabilities, knowledge worker productivity, and digital innovation: a critical nexus for sustainable performance in small and medium enterprises. Journal of Knowledge Management, 28(11), 179–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-09-2023-0788
Taylor, J., Joshi, K. D., Saldanha, T., & Sahaym, A. (2024). Procuring services through IT crowdsourcing: The role of IT administration and IT flexibility. Journal of Information Technology, 39(2), 288–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/02683962231225469
Universitas Airlangga. (2024). Kuliah Umum UNAIR-Kemnaker, Kenalkan Fenomena Gig Economy - Universitas Airlangga Official Website. https://unair.ac.id/kuliah-umum-unair-kemnaker-kenalkan-fenomena-gig-economy/
Utami, M. C., Rosyada, D., Suryani, E., Hakiem, N., & Saepudin, D. (2023). The SEM-PLS Analysis for Testing Questionnaire: Software Developer Productivity Based on Religiosity and Work Behavior. 2023 11th International Conference on Cyber and IT Service Management, CITSM 2023. https://doi.org/10.1109/CITSM60085.2023.10455692
Webster, N. A., & Zhang, Q. (2025). Strategic silences for normative work: Inclusions and exclusions of migrant labour in policy foregrounding of the Swedish gig economy. Geoforum, 158, 104157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2024.104157
Yang, K., Zhou, L., Wang, Z., Lin, C., & Luo, Z. (2019). Humble leadership and innovative behaviour among Chinese nurses: The mediating role of work engagement. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(8), 1801–1808. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12879
Z News. (2024). Menghadapi Ledakan Pekerja Sektor Informal di Era Ekonomi Gig - ZNEWS. https://znews.id/menghadapi-ledakan-pekerja-sektor-informal-di-era-ekonomi-gig/
Zhang, P. (2024). Training for gig workers: a systematic review and research agenda. Learning Organization, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-10-2022-0124/FULL/XML
Authors
Alfarizi, M., Noer, L. R. and Arifin Noer, B. (2025) “Technological Support, Hybrid Work, and National Employment Policies: Catalysts for Worker Productivity and SDG 8 Achievement in Indonesia’s Gig Economy”, Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 20(1). doi: 10.47198/jnaker.v20i1.440.
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