Platform workers are not avatars on a screen, but real people with rights

"The EU has high standards when it comes to fair working conditions. Platforms like Uber or Deliveroo cannot be the exception. New ways of doing business should not lead to precarious working conditions. That is why I am happy to see that the European Commission has listened to our urgent calls for better rights for workers of these platforms", said Dennis Radtke MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on Social Affairs. Today, the European Commission will present new rules to better ensure the rights of platform workers like Uber drivers or Deliveroo riders.

"It is especially good news that the Commission is following the line of the European Parliament that platform workers are in fact employees and platforms are their respective employers when certain criteria regarding remuneration, working time, supervising of performance, appearance or working for other employers are met. Someone is either an employee or self-employed, there is nothing in between", Radtke continued. "Member States will have to ensure that workers are classified correctly from the start of their contract, based on clear criteria. We have to make sure that people enjoy their basic rights as workers, without having to go to court against a massive opponent such as Uber or Deliveroo."

According to Radtke, the law proposal that will be presented later today strikes a good balance. "It protects workers who need protection, while those who are genuinely self-employed are able to continue their work as they are used to. Other positive elements in the proposal are the promotion of social dialogue in this sector and the fact that companies will need to be more transparent on their algorithms and facilitate communication among colleagues working for their platforms. These are the important steps because in the end, these are all real people, with real families and real homes, working for these companies, not just avatars on a screen. They should be treated as any other worker in the EU."

After the presentation by the European Commission, the proposal will be discussed in Parliament. "The EPP Group has pushed for this and now we will make sure that the new law does what it promises: ensure better rights for platform workers. This cannot end up as just empty words", Radtke concluded.