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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United Kingdom
In 2017, Uber partnered with the UK association IPSE (Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) to provide discounted illness and injury insurance for Uber drivers. Drivers can avail of this for £2 (about €2.20) per week, instead of at the ‘market rate’ of about £8 (€8.80) per week and are insured in case of illness and injury for up to £2,000 (€2,200) if they are unable to drive for two or more weeks (see further information).
The package includes sickness and injury cover, jury service cover, access to free advice on tax and personal finance, occupational accident cover, and accidental death or permanent total disablement cover. Uber is contributing significantly to the cost, with drivers paying only £2 a week for a package worth £8 a week. By joining the scheme, drivers become members of IPSE, the largest organisation representing the interests of the self-employed community.
This announcement follows other initiatives launched by Uber in response to driver feedback, including earnings advice sessions, discounted access to savings products, and free skills courses.
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.
