第31回 の解答
テーマ：ギグエコノミー 正解は緑、解説・和訳・スクリプト・模範解答つき
語彙・熟語（大問1形式）
目安 2分30秒空所に入れるのに最も適切なものを1つ選びなさい。
訳：配達アプリを使えば好きなときに働けるが、その柔軟性には代償が伴うと批判する人もいる。労働者は病気休暇の手当を受けられず、収入も非常に不安定になりうるからだ。
訳：批評家たちは、ギグワーカーの収入はしばしば不規則で、月ごとに予告なく大きく増えたり減ったりしうると指摘している。
訳：ギグワーカーの中には生計を立てるために複数の仕事を同時に掛け持ちする人もおり、そのため休息や家族のための時間がほとんど残らない。
訳：アプリが支払い方式を変更した後、多くの運転手がSNS上で会社を激しく非難し、予告なしに報酬を下げたと責めた。
訳：政府は、企業がビジネスモデルを調整する時間を持てるよう、新しい労働規則を3年かけて段階的に導入すると約束した。
長文読解（大問3形式）
目安 4分30秒Freedom or Insecurity?
The gig economy, in which people earn money by completing short-term tasks arranged through online platforms, has expanded rapidly over the past decade. Ride-hailing, food delivery, and freelance design are among its most visible forms. For many participants, the main appeal lies in flexibility. Students can work between classes, parents can choose hours that fit around childcare, and people with full-time jobs can earn extra income in the evenings. Surveys suggest that a considerable proportion of gig workers value this freedom highly and would be reluctant to give it up in exchange for a fixed schedule.
However, the arrangement has drawn increasing criticism. Because platforms typically classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, they are generally not obliged to provide benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave, or unemployment insurance. Furthermore, the algorithms that assign tasks and set prices can change without explanation, leaving workers unable to predict their earnings from one week to the next. Critics argue that platforms enjoy much of the control of a traditional employer while avoiding its responsibilities, shifting financial risks onto individuals who often have little bargaining power.
In response, several governments have introduced laws requiring platforms to guarantee minimum pay or to treat certain workers as employees. Platforms counter that such rules will force them to raise prices and reduce the number of available jobs, ultimately harming the very workers the laws are meant to protect. Some researchers propose a middle path, such as a new legal category that would provide basic protections, including accident insurance, while preserving the flexibility that many gig workers value. Whether such compromises can satisfy both sides remains to be seen.
リスニング（Part2 文章形式）
目安 2分🎙 When economists study the gig economy, they often find that most participants do not depend on it entirely. Surveys in the United States suggest that the majority of gig workers use platform jobs to supplement income from a regular job. For these people, the flexibility is valuable, and they tend to report high satisfaction. The picture is different, however, for the smaller group who rely on gig work as their main source of income. They are more likely to work long hours, to lack health insurance, and to feel financially insecure. Researchers therefore argue that policies should focus on protecting this vulnerable minority.
スピーキング（面接No.4形式）
40秒More and more people are earning money through short-term jobs found on smartphone apps.
Should gig workers receive the same protections as regular employees?
💡 without rules, ... のように「対策がない場合に起こる問題」を示すと理由が明確になる。
模範解答
はい、そう思います。第一に、多くのギグワーカーは家族を養うためにこの仕事に頼っているので、病気休暇の手当や保険のような保護が必要です。第二に、規則がなければ企業はいつでも報酬を下げられるため、労働者は生活設計を立てることができません。
💡 without rules, ... のように「対策がない場合に起こる問題」を示すと理由が明確になる。