PLATFORM-MEDIATED LABOR AS A DISTINCT GOVERNANCE SUBSTRATE Invariants and Drift Signatures for the Gig-Economy Domain

This working paper establishes the conceptual substrate for platform-mediated labor as a distinct governance domain with its own invariants, drift signatures, and substrate-integrity requirements. Unlike traditional employment or consumer-service models, gig-economy labor is mediated through algorithmic assignment, platform-controlled identity verification, and platform-controlled payout systems. These characteristics create a unique governance substrate that cannot be adequately described using existing labor, financial-services, or identity-systems frameworks.This paper introduces five invariants and six drift signatures that define the structural behavior of platform-mediated labor systems. These constructs are original, non-derivable from existing literature, and form the conceptual foundation for future governance, safety, and compliance architectures.Binding logic, operational controls, and sector-pack implementations are intentionally excluded from this working paper.