Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 411 initiatives and court cases that exist or have been implemented in relation to activities in the platform economy. The database was last updated in March 2025 and provides metadata for each entry, such as geographical scope, year, type of initiative, actors involved, sector and companies concerned. Initiatives include legal instruments such as legislative changes or court decisions, as well as voluntary interventions undertaken by different stakeholders to address issues around platform work.
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Netherlands
The District Court of Amsterdam ruled that a rider working for Deliveroo was not an employee but a self-employed contractor. The rider claimed he was employed by Deliveroo despite signing a self-employed contract, as his manner of working suggested a potential relationship of authority or control similar to that found in traditional employment.
Motivation for Ruling:
Contractual Agreement: Clear intention for self-employment.
Autonomy: Ability to choose work hours and accept or refuse orders.
Independence: Allowed to work for competitors and use own equipment.
Lack of Authority: No relationship of authority typical of employment.
The ruling acknowledged the evolving nature of employment relationships within the platform economy and highlighted the need for legislative action to address such situations.
Dutch: De overeenkomst die een bezorger sloot met Deliveroo geldt niet als arbeidscontract – en dus is de man niet in loondienst bij het bezorgbedrijf.
The platform economy is one of those moving targets, which, despite receiving increasing media and policy attention, has proven difficult to regulate. Given the heterogeneity of employment relationships, business models, types of platform work and cross-border issues, this is not surprising.
Technological change is accelerating as the capacity of electronic devices to digitally store, process and communicate information expands. Digitalisation is transforming the EU economy and labour markets: nearly one-third of EU workplaces are categorised as highly digitalised. What are the implications of the digital revolution for employment and work?
The rapid rise of the platform economy has led to a marked transformation of European labour markets, and existing regulatory frameworks and voluntary initiatives have yet to catch up. While platform work offers opportunities for workers and employers and potentially contributes to innovation, economic growth and competitiveness in the EU, it has been criticised from the beginning because of the poor employment and working conditions often experienced by workers.
While 2020 may come to be seen as the year platform work gathered pace and started to go mainstream – thanks in large part to COVID-19 containment measures sparking an increase in food and grocery delivery – 2021 could be the year that regulation of platform work is set in motion.
