Europe moved a step closer to granting so-called gig economy workers from online platforms such as Uber and Deliveroo greater social and labor rights on Monday, although companies indicated that little would change under the watered-down rules.
European Union lawmakers and Belgium reached a political deal last month, albeit after diluting the Commission’s proposal. However, they failed to secure enough votes in favor from EU countries, with France, Germany, Estonia, and Greece abstaining.
This preliminary agreement discarded a set of criteria proposed by the Commission to determine if an online company is an employer.
Instead, national law, collective agreements, and case law will dictate whether a worker is an employee, effectively maintaining the status quo. The burden of proof will lie with companies to demonstrate that their gig workers are not employees.
The draft rules prohibit the use of automated monitoring or decision-making systems for processing certain types of personal data of individuals performing platform work, such as biometric data or their emotional or psychological state.This is a momentous day for gig workers.
— Nicolas SCHMIT (@NicolasSchmitEU) March 11, 2024
New EU rules will give platform workers more rights & protections without hampering platforms’ ability to develop.
The EU has delivered today.
Grateful to @EU2024BE for pushing.
“Ministers just approved the compromise text on the Platform Work Directive [PWD]. This will improve the rights and conditions of more than 28.5 million Europeans working in the PlatformWork economy,” Belgium, the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, announced on the social media platform X.
EU parliament to vote next month✅ Better working conditions for those delivering your meal at home!
— Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@EU2024BE) March 11, 2024
🇪🇺 Ministers just approved the compromise text on the Platform Work Directive (#PWD).
This will improve the rights & conditions of more than 28.5 million Europeans working in the #PlatformWork economy.#EPSCO pic.twitter.com/94nHO40UcK
Uber stated that the status quo remains unchanged despite EU countries’ endorsement of the February political deal.
“EU countries have voted to maintain the status quo today, with platform worker status continuing to be decided country-to-country and court-to-court,” a spokesperson from Uber stated.
“Uber now calls on EU countries to introduce national laws that provide platform workers with the protections they deserve while maintaining the independence they prefer,” they added.
The European Parliament will vote on the agreement next month before it can become law.
