There is extreme exploitation, due to independent contractors not being afforded almost any worker protections. Each gig employer has no incentive, legal or oth

There is extreme exploitation, due to independent contractors not being afforded almost any worker protections. Each gig employer has no incentive, legal or otherwise, to provide for their workers. In their efforts to minimize labor costs they can employ tactics like reducing wages below minimum wage, offering no benefits, discriminating at will, and of course offering less work than could possibly sustain an employee. This last one is made particularly easy because of the ability of ICs to work for many operators: the employers know their workers will just pick up extra work on another platform, often with a cruel total of worked hours for minimal pay. In California, these workers will now receive some of the protections offered to others. That is not a perfect situation or anything, but the current state of ICs in the gig economy is _abominable_. They will be free to seek new employment without quitting much like any other worker. Yes they wont be able to work oppressive hours for multiple employers, none of whom are providing for them. That is not a bad thing. The gig economy is an unmitigated disaster. I'm not sure CA's solution is perfect, but it's a _big_ improvement.