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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Uber has introduced ‘Earnings advice sessions’, in order to help its drivers to get advice from the platform and from other drivers on how to maximise time and earnings through driving.
In 2017, Uber announced it would introduce ‘Earnings advice sessions’ where drivers would be able to get advice from the platform and from other drivers on how to maximise time and earnings through driving. This was particularly targeted at drivers making less than the hourly average, who would receive invitations to join.
Also in 2017, Uber cooperated with the online education platform Futurelearn to provide drivers who had completed more than 500 trips with Uber the option to complete a free course, for which Uber would pay the Certificate of Achievement. Additionally, for 12 months Uber offers drivers free access to the English language learning app, Busuu, to improve English language skills.
In the UK, Uber drivers and couriers can access online courses for free with OpenClassroom, which is an online training platform, ranging from management to business development and professional leadership.
In France, Uber has an ongoing programme called Campus VTCto offer partner drivers skills improvement opportunities including language training (through Uber’s partnership with Babbel, an online language training plaftform) or courses on accounting, job application, time management, presentation skills etc..
In the United States, Uber has a partnership with the Arizona State University (ASU), through which drivers earn credit which can lead to an online undergraduate degree or certificates in entrepreneurship or English language, either for themselves or for a member of their family.
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.
