IELTS Writing Task 2 – Band 8.0 Sample

Food delivery riders, freelance designers and online tutors are all part of the rapidly expanding gig economy, in which people find short-term work through apps and websites. Although this model offers genuine freedom, I believe it is on balance a negative development, at least in its current form.

It must be acknowledged that platform work suits certain people very well. Students, parents with young children and those seeking extra income can choose when and how much they work, and the barriers to entry are low. A university student in Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, can earn a modest income by delivering food in the evenings without committing to a fixed schedule. For such people, the flexibility of platform work is a genuine advantage rather than a compromise.

However, for people who depend on this work as their main source of income, the drawbacks are serious. Because they are classified as self-employed, most gig workers are not entitled to sick pay, paid holidays or pension contributions, so a single illness or accident can plunge them into financial difficulty. Moreover, their earnings are highly unpredictable, as platforms can change pay rates overnight or deactivate accounts with little explanation. Many riders work twelve-hour days simply to make ends meet, with no guarantee of earnings on quiet days. On a wider scale, this shifts risk from companies onto individuals and places additional strain on public welfare systems when workers fall on hard times.

In conclusion, while the flexibility of platform work benefits those who use it as a supplement, the insecurity it creates makes it a largely negative trend. Governments should therefore ensure that gig workers receive basic protections comparable to those of ordinary employees.