Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 397 initiatives and court cases that exist or have been implemented in relation to activities in the platform economy. The database was last updated in November 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 397 entries and was last updated in November 2024.
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In July 2020, an Uber driver filed a case with the Administrative Commission for the Settlement of the Employment Relationship, stating that he was not an independent contractor because he was largely subject to the working conditions imposed by the platform. The Administrative Commission ruled in favour of the driver at the end of December 2020, considering that the elements submitted to it were irreconcilable with the qualification of an independent employment relationship. On 16 February 2021, Uber took the matter to the labour court. Trade unions, such as the Christian trade union, are calling on the federal government to establish a clear employment status for these platform workers. In December 2022, the Brussels labour court ruled in favour of Uber.
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.
