Following the success of the inaugural INDL-MEA Conference in 2024, the second event of the Middle East and Africa chapter of the International Network on Digital Labor (INDL-MEA-2) will take place exclusively online on 25-26 November 2025. The conference will serve as a key regional forum for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners engaged in studying and shaping the future of digital labor, gig work, data work, content moderation, and technology-related jobs in the Middle East and Africa.
Digital labor continues to evolve as a defining feature of global and regional economies, shaping employment opportunities, economic structures, and policy debates. The Middle East and Africa present unique dynamics in digital labor, characterized by platformization, algorithmic management, labor informality, and digital entrepreneurship, alongside issues of regulation, fair work practices, and digital workers’ agency.
With INDL-MEA’s second edition, we aim to enhance interdisciplinary and policy-relevant insights into platform work, automation, labor protections, and digital rights in the region. The programme is available here, and it is still possible to register here.
Digital labor is at the heart of our evolving economies. To address the specific challenges and developments in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), we are launching a dedicated chapter of INDL for the region.
This conference provides a unique platform to present research related to the MEA region, both ongoing and/or burgeoning. The conference offers opportunities for scholars and practitioners to engage with topics such as platformization, automation, gig economy dynamics, and technology-mediated labor.
INDL-MEA will feature three tracks: one in Arabic, one in English, and one in French, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region.
Topics
Submissions must be in reference to the MEA region, for instance: in perspective, case studies, or focus.
Submission topics may include but are not limited to
Case studies examining platforms, gig economy workers, and online digital labor in MEA
Exploring algorithmic management practices in work processes, recruiting, and HR in MEA
Issues of digital platform labor on gender and inclusion in the MEA region
Consequences of the shift to digital labor on workers, businesses, economies, and labor markets in MEA
Effects of remote work and digital labor on employee well-being and productivity in MEA
Policy responses to the rise of digital labor and automation in MEA, including regulatory measures and government intervention
Strategies for organizing digital workers and managing geographically distributed workforces in MEA
Intersectional perspectives on digital labor in MEA
Exploring AI and digital labor through a decolonial lens in MEA
Challenges posed by Generative AI to human labor in MEA
Submissions
We invite submissions of anonymized abstracts for papers, case studies, and policy briefs related to these topics. Abstracts, up to 500 words, can be submitted in Arabic, English, or French through our website INDL-MEA.
Important Dates
Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2024
Acceptance notification: February 15, 2024
Registration opens: TBA
INDL-MEA conference date: May 28, 2024
Together, let’s foster a thought-provoking dialogue and contribute to shaping the future of digital labor in the Middle East and Africa.
For more information, please see the INDL website.
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