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.
The Uber Community Guidelines set out rules of behaviour and user guidelines for drivers for Uber and food delivery services such as UberEats and UberRush. Rules of conduct apply to both drivers and users and concern verbal and non-verbal communication (respectful, non-aggressive, non-sexual) and in the United States includes a prohibition on carrying firearms while using the app. The Community Guidelines also explain how the reputation system and the cancellation rating works and under what circumstances drivers or couriers can lose their access to their account.
In January 2018, an Uber driver’s request to be regarded as employee was dismissed by the Paris Industrial Tribunal. The driver requested the reclassification of the service provider contract which …
In September 2021, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that Uber drivers are employees, not freelancers. Therefore, Uber drivers are covered by the collective labour agreement for taxi transport (CAO Taxivervoer). …
In March 2021, the Brussels government decided that independent drivers working via platforms such as Uber and Heetch must not use their smartphones when accepting rides. With this decision, the …
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.
Non-EU
EU 27