Platform work – local and regional regulatory challenges
Opinion factsheet
On this page
- Employment and Social Policy
- Social protection
- Enterprise and Industry
- Research, Innovation and Digital
- Digital transformation
Opinion number:
CDR-2655-2019
Status:
Adopted
Objective
to establish a comprehensive framework is needed to ensure the social protection and social rights of all workers (from health and safety to access to lifelong learning), in order to create a level playing field for the platform economy and the "traditional" offline economy, based on the same rights and obligations for all interested parties.
to point out the need for clear definition of the terms "self-employed", "employee" and "contract agent" in the digital work environment and to combat all forms of "bogus self-employment".
to ensure that workers on digital platforms enjoy the same rights as workers in the traditional economy, such as health insurance, collective bargaining and lifelong training.
to urge local and regional governments to use their influence and leverage in order to better protect the rights of platform workers.
to feed the CoR position on the topic into the new European Commission work program (platform work is one of the topics to be dealt by the mandate of Commissioner Schmidt).
to point out the need for clear definition of the terms "self-employed", "employee" and "contract agent" in the digital work environment and to combat all forms of "bogus self-employment".
to ensure that workers on digital platforms enjoy the same rights as workers in the traditional economy, such as health insurance, collective bargaining and lifelong training.
to urge local and regional governments to use their influence and leverage in order to better protect the rights of platform workers.
to feed the CoR position on the topic into the new European Commission work program (platform work is one of the topics to be dealt by the mandate of Commissioner Schmidt).
Impact
Platform work has been added to the mission letter of Commissioner Schmidt. His commitment to address the issue was further showcsed by his presence and speech during the CoR 137th Plenary session (4-5 December 2019)
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- recognises that the rise of digital platform working can be explained by the fact that it offers a range of advantages for both employers and workers given the need for a flexible labour market;
- recognises, however, that the rapid proliferation of digital labour platforms in recent years has raised a number of questions about the functioning and the benefit deriving from the reorganisation of work brought about by these platforms, together with the associated risks;
- calls for fundamental labour and social provisions to be extended to the platform economy and its workers, highlighting the need to address the social effects of the Digital Single Market at European level;
- maintains that a comprehensive framework is needed to ensure the social protection and social rights of all workers (from health and safety to access to lifelong learning), in order to create a level playing field for the platform economy and the "traditional" offline economy, based on the same rights and obligations for all interested parties.