Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 389 initiatives and court cases that exist or have been implemented in relation to activities in the platform economy. The database was last updated in June 2024 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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The database currently contains 389 entries and was last updated in June 2024.
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Germany
Tricargo is a fusion of the Radlogistik Hamburg UG (logistics company) and the tricargo eG (cooperative). The Radlogistik Hamburg UG was founded in 2016 to work as a logistics service provider in Hamburg. Tricargo manages the delivery service via cargo bikes. It has 16 employees, 14 of which are active couriers. Furthermore, it owns 4 e-cargo-bikes and rents prototypes from the tricargo eG. It aims to extend its field of operation to other cities. The cooperative tricargo eG was formed in 2018 and is now responsible for the product development of the cargo bikes, the establishment of services in the field of bike logistics and the provision of consultations for urban logistics systems with cargo bikes. Its main goal is to realise a shift in urban mobility towards sustainability and eco-friendliness. The cooperative consists of approximately 100 members (as of October 2020), which are not only couriers or workers, but also clients, shareholders, suppliers, investors etc. The members profit from surpluses and price advantages, they can participate in the decision-making within the company and can support the creation of better living conditions in cities.
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.
