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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Spain
A group of platform workers in Spain sued Roodfoods Spain, the brand operates as online food delivery platform Deliveroo in Spain, for terminating their contracts which was pertinent to their labour rights. In June 2019, the court declared the existence of violation of fundamental rights in the conduct of the company to terminate the contracts with them and declared the nullity of the articulated dismissals.
The case involves the employment status of Deliveroo riders, debated as either independent contractors or employees. The conflict arose after Deliveroo terminated service contracts with several riders following disputes over working conditions and the formation of a union section. The court examined whether these riders were employees under Spanish law.
Defendant's Arguments for Employee Status: - Riders worked under the company's organisational framework, indicating organising. - Deliveroo provided instructions and training, aligning with directing and leading. - The company's control over riders was facilitated through technology, reflecting controlling. - Riders' inability to freely reject work without consequences pointed to dependency.
The court ruled in favour of the riders being classified as employees.
First instance, issued by the Juzgado de lo Social núm. 31 Barcelona.Court ruling here
. Motivation for Ruling in Favour of Employee Status: * Integration: Riders were integrated into Deliveroo's organisational structure. * Control: Deliveroo's app controlled work distribution and performance monitoring. * Dependency: Riders were dependent on Deliveroo's platform for tasks. * Instructions: Detailed instructions were provided, indicating control. * Penalties: Riders faced consequences for not adhering to company directives.
The Spanish Social Security Treasury filed a lawsuit to classify Deliveroo riders as employees rather than self-employed, arguing that they were subject to a labour relationship with Roofoods Spain S.L. …
The Juzgado de lo Social (Employment Court) in Valencia, Spain, on 10 June 2019 ruled in favour of 97 Deliveroo riders,declaring that they were in an employment relationship with the …
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.
