gig workers

Ahmad Zai Ahmadi began interpreting for U.S. forces in Afghanistan when he was a teenager. Since coming to the U.S. as a recipient of a special immigrant visa, he has mainly relied on gig work to support his family. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption

A courier delivers goods at night on a street in Beijing in February. Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images hide caption

In 2020, Willy Solis became a voice for thousands of gig workers at Target-owned Shipt, leading calls for better treatment and pay during the pandemic and beyond. Courtesy of Willy Solis hide caption

A California ballot measure over whether Uber and Lyft should treat their drivers as employees divided gig workers but was approved by voters. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Millions of gig workers have come to depend on a government lifeline that's set to expire at the end of the year. Above, a man wearing a face mask walks past a sign saying "now hiring" on May 14 in Arlington, Va. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Millions of Uber drivers and other people who make a living from gig work are temporarily eligible for unemployment benefits. But the money has been slow to arrive. Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

Willy Solis, who delivers groceries for the app Shipt in Denton, Texas, says the coronavirus pandemic has elevated the voices of workers like him, who are risking their lives to do essential jobs. Courtesy of Willy Solis hide caption

Gig companies have started offering benefits like paid sick leave now that workers are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and some are getting sick. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption

The economic rescue package passed by the Senate this week would let gig workers and other self-employed people seek unemployment benefits they wouldn't normally qualify for. John Minchillo/AP hide caption