Because someone who’s under a contract at Apple will get paid during those times? Even a freelancer like me on a higher demand profession, I get paid by day and sometimes there’s only 4 hours of work.
The lack of empathy of some commenters here is truly shocking.
If you're on a contract that pays for your time, you can't leave and go hang out in the park or get a workout at the gym or go shopping at the mall.
If you're on a contract that pays by the job, you're back on your own time as soon as the work is done. You got paid to give someone a ride, they get out of your car and the contract is over. You can go do whatever you want. But you don't get paid any more until you do more work. That's the nature of it. There are people who voluntarily choose this when alternatives are available, because they value the flexibility etc.
Out of necessity to do gig work, or out of necessity to do some work?
I have to imagine Europe has food service workers and cashiers and cleaning staff and other jobs that nobody really likes to do and that don't pay particularly well, but that aren't hard jobs to get. So if the gig work is actually worse instead of better, why are they choosing it over any of those other things which are still available?
The lack of empathy of some commenters here is truly shocking.