The first directive in Europe for those working through online platforms has been adopted by the European Parliament

The European Parliament adopted on Wednesday the EU’s first directive governing the employment rights of people working through online platforms, such as food and grocery providers, couriers, translators, domestic helpers and caretakers and taxi drivers.

Platforms have developed as a new form of employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the European Commission has decided that they should be regulated in labor law in 2021.

The European directive obliges member states to regulate workers in online platforms in their labor legislation. The presumption for them will be that the relationship between the platform and the employees is an employment relationship where the platform has direction and control. In this case, workers will be able to be hired on labor contracts and even to bargain collectively.

Currently, the majority of platform workers, including taxi drivers, domestic helpers and food delivery drivers, are self-employed, although some must adhere to many of the rules and restrictions of contract workers.

Once implemented, the directive will ensure that platform workers cannot be dismissed based on a decision made by an algorithm or automated system without human supervision. Human involvement will also be required to make other important decisions.

Platforms will be prohibited from processing personal data related to private conversations, about workers’ union membership, to ascertain a worker’s racial or ethnic origin, immigration status, political views, religious beliefs or health status.

According to data from the Council of the EU, about 500 online platforms work in the community, employing about 30 million people, most of them in the delivery or taxi services.