THE FORMATION, RISKS, AND REGULATORY NEEDS OF THE GIG ECONOMY IN MONGOLIA’S LABOR MARKE
Keywords:
gig economy, platform-mediated work, labor-market transformation, algorithmic management, social protection, labor rights, income instability, MongoliaAbstract
The gig economy is becoming an increasingly visible component of Mongolia’s labor market as platform-mediated work expands across ride-hailing, delivery services, freelance and digital work, and short-term task-based employment. This study examines the formation, key risks, and regulatory needs of the gig economy in Mongolia’s labor market. To achieve the research objective, the study conducts a literature review based on theoretical and practical studies published by scholars in the Google Scholar database and comparatively uses open information from ride-hailing, delivery, and freelance service platforms operating in Mongolia. The findings indicate that gig work creates opportunities for flexible income, youth employment, service accessibility, and digital economic participation. However, its expansion is accompanied by significant risks, including unclear employment status, limited social protection, opaque algorithmic management, occupational safety concerns, income instability, and platform dependence. The study argues that the sustainable development of the gig economy in Mongolia requires a coherent regulatory framework, including legal clarification of platform workers’ status, flexible social protection mechanisms, algorithmic transparency, occupational safety standards, and stronger platform accountabilit.
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