Workers employed by companies such as Uber and Deliveroo working via digital platforms are set to obtain minimum wages, sick pay and other employment protections following the adoption of the Platform Work Directive by EU member states. However after much wrangling with employers and inside EU Uber one of the leading platform companies says the staus quo stays in place.
The European TUC has said that unions were successful in including the presumption of employment with the reversal of the burden of proof.
Instead of individual workers going through lengthy court processes to prove they are a worker, it will now be up to the platform companies to prove they are not employees. The directive also recognises the role of unions in all aspects of the platform economy, including on issues such as algorithm management.
Despite calls for weakening these provisions, they were left untouched by numerous attacks confirming the strong need for the collective bargaining in the platform economy.
The number of people working through digital platforms is set to grow to 43 million people by the end of the year, according to the European Council.
Commenting on the vote, Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC, said: “The decision means that millions of people working through digital platforms will no longer be cheated out of the minimum wages, sick pay, holiday pay and social security. It is not a moment too soon: the number of people working through platforms has risen by 34 per cent in the 800 days since the Commission launched this legislation. Joining forces at European level was crucial to secure this legislation, which is the first of its kind globally. The strong commitment of workers’ allies in the European Parliament and Council got this over the line.
“Member States have persevered and have seen through the platform corporations’ smokescreen. Today they have sided with workers. We salute the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies of the Council for their determination to see this legislation through. Now is the time for national governments to prepare for rapid implementation.”
However, Uber says the status quo remains unchanged despite the EU countries’ endorsement of the political deal.
“EU Countries have voted to maintain the status quo, with platform worker status continuing to be decided country-to-country and court-to-court,” an Uber spokesperson said.
“Uber now calls on EU countries to introduce national laws that give platform workers the protections they deserve while maintaining the independence they prefer,” they added.
The European Parliament will now vote on the agreement next month before it can become law.
Comment by the International Trades Union Confederation – click here.