BETA


2019/2186(INI) Fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - New forms of employment linked to digital development

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead EMPL BRUNET Sylvie (icon: Renew Renew) RADTKE Dennis (icon: EPP EPP), GUALMINI Elisabetta (icon: S&D S&D), VAN SPARRENTAK Kim (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), BILDE Dominique (icon: ID ID), ZALEWSKA Anna (icon: ECR ECR), CHAIBI Leila (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion TRAN VIND Marianne (icon: S&D S&D) José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ (icon: RE RE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2022/02/10
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2021/09/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament has adopted by 524 votes to 39, with 124 abstentions, a resolution on fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers – new forms of employment linked to digital development.

Platform workers are usually officially classified as self-employed, although they do not have the level of professional independence of self-employed workers. As a result of this erroneous classification, many platform workers do not enjoy social protection, employment rights or health and safety provisions equivalent to those provided by an employment contract or employment relationship in their Member State.

European legal framework

Deploring the fact that EU legal instruments are often not applied to many platform workers, Parliament insisted on the need to improve the working conditions of all platform workers who work through digital labour platforms, including those who are genuinely self-employed.

Members believe that workers on digital labour platforms should have the same rights and access to social protection as workers in the same category who do not work via a platform, while respecting the diversity of national labour market models, the autonomy of social partners and national competences.

Parliament proposes to create a European framework that safeguards platform work with decent working conditions, while tackling precarious forms of platform work. This framework could be complemented by national legislation or collective bargaining agreements.

Reversal of the burden of proof

To facilitate the correct classification of platform workers, Members called on the Commission to introduce in its future proposal a ‘rebuttable presumption’ of an employment relationship in the case of platform workers, combined with a reversal of the burden of proof. Thus, in the event of legal proceedings, it would be up to the employers to prove the absence of an employment relationship.

This presumption of an employment relationship should not lead to all platform workers being automatically considered as employees but should ensure that workers who are genuinely self-employed can remain so and continue to find work on platforms.

The Commission is invited to recognise the status of digital labour platforms either as employer, (temporary) employment agency or intermediary, linked to their sector of activity, in order to ensure all obligations a particular status entails.

Fair and transparent working conditions

When exploring ways to improve working conditions, the Commission should, inter alia, ensure that collective bargaining frameworks function properly, better enforce the prohibition of exclusivity clauses and ensure that all platform workers are allowed to work on different platforms, ensure the portability of skills certifications and improve rights in case of restriction, suspension or termination by the platform by ensuring that all platform workers have the right to a prior reasoned statement.

The Commission should examine the extent to which existing EU law is applicable to the digital labour platform market and ensure its adequate implementation and enforcement.

A healthy and safe working environment

The resolution highlighted that platform workers may be exposed to increased health and safety risks, both for platform work carried out on site (road accidents, physical injuries caused by machinery or chemicals) and for platform work carried out online (ergonomics of computer workstations).

The Commission's proposal should therefore address the issue of occupational health and safety of platform workers and ensure that these workers can exercise their rights, including the right to disconnect, without suffering negative consequences. On-site platform workers should be provided with adequate personal protective equipment and transport and delivery workers should be guaranteed accident insurance.

Members believe that the coverage, adequacy and transparency of social protection systems should apply to all workers, including the self-employed. In addition, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining should be guaranteed for all workers. The resolution also stressed the need for training to be provided to workers by the digital labour platform on the use of its website or application, the tasks to be performed and health and safety at work.

Algorithms and data management

Members stressed that the use of algorithms in the workplace must be transparent, non-discriminatory, trustworthy and ethical for workers. In particular, task assignment, ratings, deactivation procedures and pricing, as well as any changes to them, should be explained in an understandable way and communicated in a clear and up-to-date manner and be part of social dialogue.

Any algorithmic decisions should be ethical, accountable, contestable and, where appropriate, reversible. They should comply with the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, which means that there must be human oversight . The Commission and the Member States are invited to ensure appropriate protection of platform workers’ rights and well-being, such as non-discrimination, privacy, autonomy and human dignity in the use of AI and algorithmic management.

Documents
2021/09/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2021/09/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2021/07/27
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2021/07/27
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2021/07/14
   EP - Vote in committee
2021/04/20
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2021/03/25
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2021/02/09
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/02/20
   EP - BRUNET Sylvie (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in EMPL
2020/01/09
   EP - VIND Marianne (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in TRAN
2019/12/19
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament

Documents

Activities

Votes

Des conditions de travail, des droits et une protection sociale justes pour les travailleurs de plateformes - nouvelles formes d'emploi liées au développement numérique - Fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - New forms of employment linked to digital development - Gerechte Arbeitsbedingungen, Rechte und soziale Sicherung für auf Online-Plattformen beschäftigte Arbeitnehmer – Neue Beschäftigungsformen im Zusammenhang mit der digitalen Entwicklung - A9-0257/2021 - Sylvie Brunet - Considérant J - Am/1 #

2021/09/15 Outcome: +: 259, -: 225, 0: 209
ES DE PT EL IT SI MT AT LT BE LU SE HR CY SK BG IE EE LV RO FI DK NL CZ HU PL FR
Total
58
93
21
21
73
8
6
19
10
20
6
21
12
6
14
17
13
7
8
33
13
14
29
21
20
51
79
icon: S&D S&D
142

Greece S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
37

Germany The Left

4

Portugal The Left

4

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Ireland The Left

For (1)

4

Denmark The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia The Left

Abstain (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
177

Slovenia PPE

4

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary PPE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
36

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
63

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Latvia ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4
icon: ID ID
70

Austria ID

3

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: Renew Renew
98

Italy Renew

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Sweden Renew

3

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

For (1)

3

Bulgaria Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Estonia Renew

For (1)

Against (2)

3

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2

A9-0257/2021 - Sylvie Brunet - Considérant J/2 #

2021/09/15 Outcome: +: 371, -: 270, 0: 52
PL EL RO CZ HU IT BE BG SK NL HR LT SE LV SI CY LU IE FI EE DK ES MT DE AT PT FR
Total
51
20
33
21
20
74
20
17
14
29
12
10
21
8
8
6
6
13
13
7
14
58
6
93
19
21
79
icon: PPE PPE
177

Hungary PPE

1

Latvia PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
icon: Renew Renew
98

Hungary Renew

2

Italy Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

1
3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Estonia Renew

3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
63

Greece ECR

1

Romania ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

1

Lithuania ECR

1
3

Latvia ECR

2

Germany ECR

1
icon: NI NI
36

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Croatia NI

2

Lithuania NI

1

Germany NI

2
icon: The Left The Left
37

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Ireland The Left

4

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Germany The Left

Abstain (1)

4
icon: ID ID
71

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
141

Greece S&D

Against (1)

1

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Belgium S&D

3

Slovakia S&D

Abstain (1)

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Finland S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Des conditions de travail, des droits et une protection sociale justes pour les travailleurs de plateformes - nouvelles formes d'emploi liées au développement numérique - Fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - New forms of employment linked to digital development - Gerechte Arbeitsbedingungen, Rechte und soziale Sicherung für auf Online-Plattformen beschäftigte Arbeitnehmer – Neue Beschäftigungsformen im Zusammenhang mit der digitalen Entwicklung - A9-0257/2021 - Sylvie Brunet - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) #

2021/09/15 Outcome: +: 524, 0: 124, -: 39
DE FR ES IT RO PL HU PT EL BG BE NL AT IE LT SK HR CZ FI SI LV MT CY LU DK SE EE
Total
91
79
58
73
31
51
19
21
20
17
21
28
19
13
10
14
12
21
13
8
8
6
6
6
14
21
7
icon: PPE PPE
175

Hungary PPE

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
141

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Abstain (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
98

Italy Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
69

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3
icon: The Left The Left
37

Portugal The Left

4

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Cyprus The Left

2

Denmark The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
35

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Lithuania NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

Against (1)

2
icon: ECR ECR
62

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Romania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

4

Lithuania ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
3
icon: ID ID
70

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
484 2019/2186(INI)
2021/02/15 TRAN 141 amendments...
source: 681.011
2021/03/25 EMPL 343 amendments...