Platform Work Directive: agreement reached on the directive

The Platform Worker directive is fundamental to protect and improve working conditions of platform workers and protect workers subject to algorithmic management.

On March 11^th, the Council of ministers for employment and social affairs confirmed the provisional agreement on the directive with the Parliament, giving green light to the Directive.

The text, drawing also from some examples such as the Spanish 'rider-law', tackles important points such as the reversed burden of proof, where companies need to prove that there is no employment relationship, transparency on algorithmic management, and the possibility of workers to contest automated decisions. Essentially, it is a step forward towards ensuring that platform workers enjoy the same rights as the rest.

'It was high time the directive was adopted. Now Member States must move swift and effectively, transposing and implementing the text. Millions of workers in bogus self employment, without sick leave or social protection of barely any kind, working often for very meagre wages that rarely reach the legal minimum for standard employment, are counting on this', said Lucie Studničná, Workers' Group president.