Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 386 initiatives and court cases that exist or have been implemented in relation to activities in the platform economy. The database was last updated in February 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 386 entries and was last updated in February 2024.
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Italy
On 05. July 2023, the Court of Turin in Italy ruled that Glovo riders are employees. This court ruling confirms the initial decision by the court on 13. January 2023, which Glovo appealed. The Spanish multinational Glovo which is owned by Delivery Hero, a German company, now has to pay its riders according to their effective working hours which include breaks, shifts and waiting times.
This court ruling which clarifies the employment relationship between Glovo and employed riders contributes to the improvement of working conditions for Glovo riders. At the same time, the request of Glovo riders for compensation connected to the constant risk of injuries and life-threatening situations at work has been rejected by the Court in January.
A collective lawsuit was filed by eight Glovo riders against the food delivery platform. Next to the riders' claims for compensation and the request to recognise the employment relationship as subordinate, the lawsuit also broached the issue of algorithm transparency. Accordingly, the Court of Turin expressed itself negatively about the lack of algorithm transparency and algorithmic mechanisms which deteriorate working conditions of riders. This regards algorithmic scoring which enables riders with more deliveries to book more shifts.
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.
