The Urban Worker Project was formed to raise the issues and the voices of the growing number of independent workers across Canada.

Most jobs these days are part-time, temporary, contract, freelance, self-employed or gig worker positions that are outside of the standard employer/employee relationship. That means millions of workers have no access to income security—like employment insurance to help bridge the gap between gigs.

They do not qualify for paid parental leave, compassionate leave or a paid sick day. They don’t get vacation pay and rarely take a vacation. They pay the full cost of a visit to the dentist and have no workplace pension plan. What’s more they lack most protections under governments’ labour laws and regulations. Over half of these workers are women. There’s no sign of this trend slowing down as employers seek to place more and more responsibility for their workforce onto the shoulders of workers themselves.

In the arts and culture, tech, knowledge, not-for-profit and service sectors this is the new normal. A lot of independent workers like the work they do, but they don’t like how precarious it is. Together we can change this.