Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 412 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.
Tag
Active
Netherlands
In February 2021, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled that Deliveroo workers are employees and that they are therefore entitled to paid holiday leave and pension as well as hourly pay according to the haulage-sector collective labour agreement (CLA). The riders filing the lawsuit were supported by the trade union federation FNV (Federatie Nederlands Vakbeweging), which claimed the workers were subject to bogus self-employment. Deliveroo has been appealing the judgment.
Reasons the court classified the relationship as employment:
Deliveroo exercises a high level of control over the delivery process through systems like the 'Frank' algorithm and the GPS tracking of delivery drivers.
The payment method is similar to that of an employment relationship, with Deliveroo setting and frequently changing the remuneration unilaterally.
The delivery work is considered core work for Deliveroo, indicating a more traditional employment relationship.
A large portion of delivery drivers are not viewed as entrepreneurs for tax purposes, indicating the absence of independence typical of entrepreneurs.
Ruling: The Court of Appeal upheld the Subdistrict Court's decision that Deliveroo's delivery drivers work under an employment contract.
Motivation for ruling:
High level of control over work execution by Deliveroo.
Payment structure and lack of entrepreneurial independence.
Work is essential to Deliveroo's business model.
Legal presumption of an employment relationship based on the duration and nature of work.
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.
