Reshaping Labor Relations in Vietnam’s Platform-Based Transport Sharing Economy: A Marxist Perspective

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the sharing economy in Vietnam, particularly in the transportation sector through digital platforms such as Grab, Gojek, and Be, has given rise to new, informal yet highly regulated forms of labor relations. In this context, Karl Marx’s labor process theory, which emphasises the control of the means of production, the extraction of surplus value, and the alienation of labor, has re-emerged as a critical analytical tool for uncovering contemporary mechanisms of labor control obscured by narratives of entrepreneurial freedom or flexible work. This study examines how digital platforms restructure labor power through algorithmic management, thereby blurring the boundary between dependent and independent labor. These developments highlight the urgent need to reform existing legal frameworks to adequately address the unique characteristics of platform-based labor. Re-engaging with Marxist theory is not only theoretically significant but also essential for informing policy interventions aimed at protecting platform workers in Vietnam's rapidly evolving digital economy.