Lisette Olsthoorn

In a film set in which their home offices have been recreated, six European microworkers share experiences with the filmmaker and with each other, offering an affecting critique on changing labour conditions. Ghost Workers is a cinematic research project into the people conducting the often hidden labor necessary to make artificial intelligence work. Working from home, not being recognized as a worker by the platforms that they work for and being misunderstood by family and friends all together creates strong feelings of isolation. Therefore, the filmmaker invited six workers from across Europe to share their work experiences with her and with each other. Focusing on the theme of isolation and recognition as a ‘real worker,’ the film engages in a collective conversation about this type of work.

For the freelance drivers who took the initial opportunity offered by the international company Uber, the prospects of self-management and grand earnings were irresistible. Changes in Uber procedures, however, left the drivers frustrated and struggling. This innovative documentary probes the case of drivers in the Netherlands.