Leading market research firm Ipsos asked the Philippine government to strengthen support for the country’s fast-growing gig economy by setting fair pay standards, creating flexible social benefits and improving training programs for workers.
The recommendations stem from the firm’s Gig Life PH study, conducted with support from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The study examined the motivations, challenges and aspirations of Filipino gig workers across location-based services like delivery and transport, as well as online freelancing.
Christine Dugay, an Ipsos strategy principal in the Philippines, said policies should reflect the wide spectrum of gig work—from riders and drivers to creatives and digital professionals—while safeguarding the flexibility that workers value most.
“Gig work is not one-size-fits-all. The motivations are different, the risks are different, and so the safeguards must also be tailored,” she said.
Ipsos recommended that the government work closely with platforms to set baseline pay and incentives, using real wage data to ensure fair and transparent earnings. Dugay said inconsistent and opaque compensation remains a top concern, particularly for delivery riders and drivers whose income depends heavily on demand fluctuations and platform policies.
