Aapti Institute with Karya

Aapti Institute with Karya

Aapti Institute with Karya

Building better workplaces for
data workers

Building better workplaces for
data workers

Building better workplaces for
data workers

Pursuing sustainable working conditions and workflows within data work institutions

Pursuing sustainable working conditions and workflows within data work institutions

Pursuing sustainable working conditions and workflows within data work institutions

Artificial intelligence relies heavily on human labour, in the form of data work and content moderation. Despite the important role they play, data workers often contend with uncertainty and precarious work arrangements. As the AI sector grows, businesses need to think about their responsibility to the vast global workforce driving this digital economy.

Aapti Institute, in collaboration with Karya, has developed a collection of standards for pursuing data workers safety and well-being through a code of conduct. These standards present thinking and minimum requirements for making data work a more stable and reliable form of labour. The standards span across three distinct stages of implementation, which move from addressing precarities to ensuring long-term growth.

The standards are built on a set of six values meant to represent the core aspects of providing decent work arrangements to data workers. These values-

The standards are built on a set of six values meant to represent the core aspects of providing decent work arrangements to data workers. These values-

The standards are built on a set of six values meant to represent the core aspects of providing decent work arrangements to data workers. These values-

freedom, recognition, transparency, stability,

support and collaboration

freedom, recognition, transparency, stability,

support and collaboration

freedom, recognition, transparency, stability,

support and collaboration

inform the standards that constitute the code of conduct guidance for businesses. 

inform the standards that constitute the code of conduct guidance for businesses. 

inform the standards that constitute the code of conduct guidance for businesses. 

The ways workers and businesses can act can differ based on business models, which can shape work arrangements. Our standards attempt to consider the variations that can exist between digital labour platforms (DLP) and business process outsourcing (BPO). We have marked certain, model-specific standards with tags. 

Some of the standards are also accompanied by Auxiliary standards that provide further guidance on the document’s recommendations. These standards add to the general and model-specific standards, providing an extra layer of detail for topics we felt warranted an additional discussion.

We have also built an appendix, which explores our thinking, the code of conduct’s values, and this document’s components.

Three stages of pursuing
data workers’ well-being

Three stages of pursuing
data workers’ well-being

Stage 1

Stage 1

Stage 01 includes standards that address key labor risks in companies’workflows. These standards aim to uphold rights and provide a basic level of safety and minimum guarantees.

Stage 01 includes standards that address key labor risks in companies’workflows. These standards aim to uphold rights and provide a basic level of safety and minimum guarantees.

Stage 2

Stage 2

Stage 2

Stage 02 presents standards aimed at ensuring stability, fairness and growth. The standards in this stage also build capacity for collaboration between labor and business.

Stage 02 presents standards aimed at ensuring stability, fairness and growth. The standards in this stage also build capacity for collaboration between labor and business.

Stage 3

Stage 3

Stage 3

After addressing urgent risks and enabling stability, Stage 03 provides standards for creating long-term relationships and collaboration between labor and businesses. 

After addressing urgent risks and enabling stability, Stage 03 provides standards for creating long-term relationships and collaboration between labor and businesses. 

Appendix

Appendix

This section discusses our thinking on guiding values and considering business models types when developing the standards for data work. Please get in touch with us with any questions or ideas you have!

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