Trade unions are calling on EU member states to waste no time in putting the platform work directive into action at national level.
Millions of workers have been forced into bogus self-employment by platform companies, meaning they miss out on their most basic rights as workers such as the minimum wage or sick pay.
The directive adopted today by the EU Council will mean:
- A presumption of employment for workers, making it easier for workers to claim their rights.
- Regulation of algorithmic management which has been used to hire and fire workers without transparency.
- Recognition of trade unions and the need for collective bargaining in the platform sector. Platform companies have used algorithms to exclude workers who joined unions and tried to bargain for better pay and conditions.
A transposition period of up to two years is now underway, but the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls on member states to embrace the ambition and fully include social partners in the process.
Platform workers spoke out at the ETUC’s recent Platfor(u)m event about the difference the directive could make to their lives if it is fully and quickly implemented.
Following this groundbreaking step in the regulation of the use of algorithm management, the ETUC calls for legislation giving protection to millions of workers affected in other sectors.
ETUC Confederal Secretary Tea Jarc said:
“For too long, hardworking taxi drivers, delivery riders or care workers have been denied their most basic rights so that wealthy tech bros can put another zero on their bank balances.
“That’s why there is not a moment for member states to waste in putting this directive into national law – workers cannot wait for two more years to receive a minimum wage, sick pay or paid holiday.
“Member states must now ensure that workers have a genuine presumption of employment, regulate algorithmic management so that it can no longer be used to exploit workers, and ensure that the basic right to join together in trade unions to bargain for better pay and conditions is respected.
“Member states need to get this right because the platformisation of the economy is growing. We cannot allow more and more companies to operate in a regulatory wild west that leaves responsible businesses and the public to pick up the tab for unpaid tax and social security.
“This directive also includes groundbreaking provisions on regulating algorithms which must pave the way for further legislative action to ensure algorithic management is not used to discriminate against workers or violate their fundamental rights.”
