EU member states adopt agreement on platform work

The European Union countries have officially adopted the hard-won agreement on better protection for platform workers. Belgium and the other member states will have two years to incorporate the provisions of the platform work directive into their national legislation.
The European Council, which brings together the leaders of the EU member states, adopted rules that aim to improve working conditions for the more than 28 million people working in digital labour platforms across the EU, such as Uber, Deliveroo and Bolt.
The platform work directive is intended to make the use of algorithms in human resources management more transparent and ensure that automated systems are monitored by qualified staff and that workers have the right to contest automated decisions.
It will also help correctly determine the employment status of people working for platforms, whether they should be considered self-employed or an employee, enabling them to benefit from any labour rights they are entitled to.
Member states have to establish a legal presumption of employment in their legal systems that will be triggered when certain facts indicating control and direction are found.
The member states and the European Parliament had reached an agreement on the directive in February this year, under the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU.
It is now up to the Council and the Parliament to sign the directive. Once it is published in the EU’s Official Journal, the directive will enter into force. Member states will then have two years to incorporate the provisions into their national legislation.
A bicycle courier delivering meals for Deliveroo in Ghent © PHOTO ARTERRA
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