身边的经济学·社会常识英语30篇（2）

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零工经济与社会保障覆盖缺口

Ride-hailing drivers and delivery couriers often lack employer-provided health or pension coverage.
Many are classified as independent contractors rather than employees under current labor laws.
This status excludes them from unemployment insurance, paid leave, and workplace protections.
Some platforms offer optional insurance, but uptake remains low due to cost and complexity.
Countries are debating legal reforms to extend minimum standards to platform workers.
Portable benefit accounts—tied to workers, not employers—could improve continuity.
Tax collection also becomes harder when income flows through multiple digital intermediaries.
Without stable contributions, future pension entitlements may fall far below adequacy thresholds.
Regulatory uncertainty discourages both investment in worker benefits and formalization efforts.
Balancing flexibility for workers with security remains a central policy challenge.