platform workers

After two years of negotiations, the EU has finally adopted the Platform Work Directive. The Council approved the provisional agreement on March 11, aiming to improve working conditions and clarify employment status for platform workers.

As one of the fastest growing business models, most common in delivery and ride hailing in transport, platform work took centre stage at a dedicated session at ETF’s 6th Congress.

The European Commission must take Dutch trade union FNV’s recent win against Uber as a hint and make it clear in the upcoming EU law on platform work that platform workers are employees.

The Transport (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament adopted on 20 April its opinion on ‘fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers’. Although it includes several constructive demands, it fails to condemn bogus self-employment and third employment status explicitly.

Despite unions' warnings against further deterioration of already substandard working conditions in on-demand passenger transport, the Slovenian government stays intent on opening its doors to ride-hailing apps under the pretence of "modernisation". But the ETF and Slovenian union, SDPZ know better.

The ETF proves that fair platform work is possible in its six-step manifesto. Fulfilling this vision requires platform companies to assume their responsibilities as employers and finally admit their workers are employees. Meaning they must adhere to regulations in place and ending their business model based on bogus self-employment and circumvention of labour and fiscal laws.

As part of the European Digital Strategy, the European Commission is currently working on the new Digital Services Act. The ETF replied to the consultation, but firmly states that the issue of platform work requires more attention and a specific focus rather than being added to a consultation on another topic.