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
Inactive
Netherlands
Helpling Netherlands B.V. in Amsterdam (Noord-Holland) was declared bankrupt by the court in Amsterdam. The company has been unable to pay its debts to its German parent, which is backed by Rocket Internet and Unilever Ventures. In 2021, the FNV trade union sued Helpling, arguing that cleaners using the platform had the legal status of temporary employees and therefore were entitled to benefits like sick and redundancy pay. Even though the union won on some points, an appeal court ruled that Helpling was not required to offer regular employment contracts. A second appeal is ongoing. FNV's Anja Dijkman said the bankruptcy shows that platform companies cannot survive if they follow the rules. Helpling’s 10 employees have lost their jobs, but the website remains active, leaving cleaners and clients uncertain about the situation.
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has ruled that cleaners working through the online platform Helpling should be legally classified as temporary workers. This decision means that they are entitled to …
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.
