In an article for the Mail & Guardian, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi and UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala explore how changing global employment norms and new technologies are impacting the world of work and labour law.
"In 2020, the world was forced into a remote-first mode, revealing the limitations of traditional employment models. This transformation has ushered in “Employment 5.0”, an evolving reality that continues to redefine how, where and by whom work is done."
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"These changes have legal implications, particularly concerning the “course and scope” of employment, which is a central doctrine to determining employer liability for acts committed by employees.
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"This means revisiting — and in many cases, redefining — fundamental legal concepts such as “employee”, “employer”, “work”, “workplace” and “scope of employment”. Policymakers must also ensure that the rights and protections afforded to traditional employees extend to gig and platform workers, who increasingly constitute a significant portion of the labour force."
Suggested citation: Letlhokwa Mpedi, Tshilidzi Marwala. "Reimagining Employment in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," United Nations University, UNU Centre, 2025-07-23, https://unu.edu/article/reimagining-employment-age-fourth-industrial-revolution.
