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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Austria
In March 2017, Foodora bike couriers elected a works council in Vienna, which aims to negotiate an agreement with the Foodora management concerning better working conditions, particularly during the winter period. Demands include a guarantee of the mileage allowance (10 to 15% of overall pay), insurance for bicycles and the smartphones in case of damage or theft. Furthermore, the works council will negotiate for more transparency in tracking of its couriers and its implementation of disciplinary measures.
The establishment of the works council was supported by the Vida trade union which provided general information on how to establish the new body as well as legal and technical advice.
Scale of the initiative The works council consist of five regular members (that is the number of works council representatives to be elected in companies with 101-200 employees) and five substitute members. At the time of the establishment of the works council, the company had around 110 employees and 80 to 90 freelance workers.
Strengths and weaknesses Once it was established, a key aim of the works council was the signing of a sectoral collective bargaining agreement. It took around 2.5 years until the goal was reached and collective agreement for bicycle couriers came into effect on 1 January 2020. In the absence of the works council, the development and implementation of the sectoral collective agreement would not have been possible due to a lack of organisation.
The works council also contributed to improving working conditions within the company: the wrongful handling of sick days was addressed, riders were provided with better gear and seasonal contracts were offered to riders which improved predictability of employment.
The key weakness of the works council is that it mainly benefits employed riders and not freelancers which account for the majority of workers. In 2021 around 70 employees and 1,500 freelancers worked for the platform.
Social partners in Austria have agreed on the first collective agreement for bicycle couriers. The new collective agreementapplies to all bicycle couriers, that is, both those who have an employment …
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.
