{"id":605224,"date":"2023-02-06T07:49:24","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/06\/meps-vote-to-amend-platform-worker-directive\/"},"modified":"2023-02-06T07:49:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:49:24","slug":"meps-vote-to-amend-platform-worker-directive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/06\/meps-vote-to-amend-platform-worker-directive\/","title":{"rendered":"MEPs vote to amend platform worker directive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>MEPs have voted in favour of amendments to the European Commission\u2019s platform worker directive that would introduce a presumption of employment and increase algorithmic transparency<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"Sebastian Klovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton\">Sebastian Klovig Skelton,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Senior reporter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>03 Feb 2023 9:26<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>The European Parliament has voted to adopt an amended version of a proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu\/oeil\/popups\/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021\/0414(COD)&#038;l=en\">platform worker directive<\/a>, making it easier for gig workers across Europe to clarify their employment status and understand how they are being algorithmically managed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252512896\/EC-proposes-new-directive-to-improve-gig-economy-work-conditions\">Proposed by the European Commission (EC) in February 2022<\/a>, the directive means millions of people working for gig economy platforms across Europe could be reclassified as workers rather than self-employed, entitling them to a much wider range of rights and workplace protections.<\/p>\n<p>According to EC estimates, more than 28 million people in the European Union (EU) are involved in platform work, which will rise to 43 million by 2025. It also estimates that, if the directive is passed, about 5.5 million people working for the likes of Uber, Deliveroo, Amazon Mechanical Turk and others could see their employment status change.<\/p>\n<p>Passed with 376 votes to 212 on 2 February 2023, the updated directive gives the Parliament a mandate for \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/olp\/en\/interinstitutional-negotiations\">trilogue<\/a>\u201d negotiations with the EC and Council of Europe, which will now have to agree on a final text between them.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Changes from initial text\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Changes from initial text<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/docs_autres_institutions\/commission_europeenne\/com\/2021\/0762\/COM_COM(2021)0762_EN.pdf\">initial draft<\/a> sought to establish a set of five \u201ccontrol criteria\u201d to determine whether or not a platform is an \u201cemployer\u201d. Under this version of the directive, if the platform meets at least two of these criteria, it will legally be viewed as an employer, and the workers will be automatically reclassified.<\/p>\n<p>The criteria included whether the platform has a role in determining or limiting remuneration; whether it requires workers to follow specific appearance rules, such as wearing a uniform; whether it supervises the performance of work, including by electronic means; whether it restricts people\u2019s freedom to organise their own work; and whether it restricts the possibility of people building their own client base or ability to work for a third party.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2022, however, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) \u2013 which is responsible for scrutinising the directive \u2013 voted in favour of a \u201ccompromise text\u201d, removing the five criteria and replacing them with a general presumption of employment. This text is what MEPs voted to adopt on 2 February 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The compromise text also introduced new algorithmic management measures, including further transparency and information requirements, regarding how automated systems are used, and the effect they have on workers\u2019 employment relationships to the platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Platforms will also be obliged to assess the impact of decisions taken or supported by automated monitoring and decision-making systems on working conditions, health and safety and fundamental rights.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorkers dealing with algorithmic management and their representatives have to be informed in advance of all elements affecting working conditions and health and security at work, so as to give them the opportunity to understand the functioning of the algorithm and to collectively bargain on it,\u201d wrote EMPL in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/A-9-2022-0301_EN.html#_section2\">explanatory notes<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll decisions impacting on those terms are to be taken by human beings, and, in parallel, human oversights on decisions taken by the algorithm has to be granted. At the same time, platforms have to guarantee that the protection of data of people [using the] platform is fully respected and that the algorithm does not access or collect data which are not primarily linked to the performance of work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It added that because the disparate nature of platform work makes collectively organising more difficult, and because \u201cunionising has been actively discouraged by some labour platforms who depend on bogus self-employment for their business model\u201d, all applicable European employment and collective bargaining legislation will apply to platforms once recognised as direct employers.<\/p>\n<p>James Farrar, director of Worker Info Exchange (WIE) &#8211; which was set up to help workers access and gain insight from data collected from them at work &#8211; said the amendments were a welcome step forward, but that it still falls short in a number of areas, such as the failure to define working time or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252498028\/Uber-classifies-drivers-as-workers-after-Supreme-Court-ruling\">compensation for excessive waiting time<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He added the proposed directive could also go further in banning predictive behavioural profiling and dynamic pay setting, as outlined in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.workerinfoexchange.org\/workers-recommendations-on-eu-directive\">WIE\u2019s recent policy brief from December 2022<\/a>, but that Europe was now far ahead of the UK.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEurope is now progressing light years ahead to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for digitally mediated employment while Brexit Britain regresses into the Victorian era,\u201d he said, adding the UK government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-introduces-laws-to-mitigate-the-disruption-of-strikes-on-the-public\">proposed anti-strike laws<\/a> in combination with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252522946\/UK-government-introduces-data-reforms-legislation-to-Parliament\">Data Protection and Digital Information bill<\/a> will see gig workers stripped of vital protections against unfair automated decision-making, including those against dismissals, suspensions, work allocation and pay deductions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmployers will have greater powers to resist data access and algorithmic transparency requests from workers and will be relieved of current regulatory requirements to conduct algorithmic risk assessment and engage in consultation with stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd with the government having failed to bring forward a long-promised employment bill despite publication of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/good-work-the-taylor-review-of-modern-working-practices\">Taylor Review<\/a> in 2017, the future could not be bleaker for vulnerable workers in the gig economy yet could not be rosier for profiteering platform barons.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Aggressive lobbying tactics\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Aggressive lobbying tactics<\/h3>\n<p>Elisabetta Gualmini, a Social Democrat Group (S&#038;D) MEP and the European Parliament\u2019s rapporteur on the directive who spearheaded the amendments, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu\/newsroom\/sds-stop-shady-lobbying-offensives-abusive-digital-platforms-and-protect-workers\">condemned platforms\u2019 lobbying tactics<\/a> on a number of occasions.<\/p>\n<p>In mid-January 2023, for example, she said the EMPL committee was able to agree on changes to the directive, despite huge pressure from the platforms: \u201cWe must not give in to aggressive lobbying by big corporations. We must ensure correct employment classification, based on the actual working conditions and transparency of algorithms that cannot remain black boxes.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div>\n<figure>\n    \u201cThanks to platform workers mobilising and the hard work convincing MEPs across the political spectrum, this proposal is balanced and good. We scored a new victory with an ambitious proposal, in favour of workers \u2013 a rarity in the European Union\u201d<br \/>\n   <\/figure><figcaption>\n    <strong>Le\u00efla Chaibi, La France Insoumise MEP<\/strong><br \/>\n   <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cTrade unions and worker representatives must be able to collectively bargain on platform working conditions. The burden of proof of the employment status must lay with the platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a speech given immediately before the vote, Gualmini also accused platforms of \u201cinterfering with democratic processes\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Responding to the European Parliament\u2019s vote, Le\u00efla Chaibi, a La France Insoumise MEP who leads the work of the left in the European Parliament Group on platform work, <a href=\"https:\/\/braveneweurope.com\/gig-economy-project-defeat-for-the-platform-lobby-european-parliament-backs-stronger-platform-work-directive\">described<\/a> the vote to update the directive as a rare win for workers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLobbyists from Uber, Deliveroo and their allies worked until the 11th hour to undermine the directive, and even tried to get a deal that was worse for workers than the status quo,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThanks to platform workers mobilising and the hard work convincing MEPs across the political spectrum, this proposal is balanced and good. We scored a new victory with an ambitious proposal, in favour of workers \u2013 a rarity in the European Union.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Against the amendments\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Against the amendments<\/h3>\n<p>In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euractiv.com\/section\/digital\/opinion\/a-bridge-too-far-the-unintended-consequences-of-the-european-platform-work-directive\/\">article published by Euractiv<\/a> on 25 January 2023, Benoit Le Bret, a partner at Gide Loyrette Nouel law firm in Brussels (which has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.project-disco.org\/european-union\/042117-uber-single-market-internet-implications-court-justice-case-digital-single-market\/\">advised Uber on European regulatory matters<\/a>), wrote that the amended directive \u201csmacks of legislative overreach, risks sidelining this promising new mode of work and would curtail opportunities for workers at a time of high economic tension\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cThe proposal of the European Parliament casts aside the European Commission\u2019s original, legally safer and balanced proposal and is not a sensible or practical way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The European Tech Alliance (EUTA) \u2013 which <a href=\"http:\/\/eutechalliance.eu\/our-members\/\">represents 29 tech companies from Europe<\/a>, including platforms such as Bolt, FreeNow and appJobber \u2013 said it was concerned that the updated directive would create legal uncertainty for European businesses, adding that it would not grant independent platform workers the necessary protections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe debate focused on a few well-known companies and didn\u2019t acknowledge the impact on European businesses,\u201d it said on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eutechalliance\/status\/1621100064805453824\">Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it comes to the classification of workers, we recommend mirroring the criteria from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) case <a href=\"https:\/\/dwfgroup.com\/en\/news-and-insights\/insights\/2020\/5\/employment-status-ecj-ruling-under-the-working-time-directive-in-b-v-yodel-delivery-network-ltd\">B versus Yodel<\/a>, [which stipulated that the courier was self-employed rather than a worker, given their independence and lack of subordination to the firm].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs the discussion continues with the EU member states, the EUTA invites policymakers to adopt a more holistic approach which would better protect independent workers and allow European online services to flourish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, in commentary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crosslandsolicitors.com\/site\/cases\/B-v-Yodel-worker-status-Working-Time-Directive\">published<\/a> in the wake of the case, UK-based Crossland Employment Solicitors noted the decision \u201cturns on a very specific set of facts and the ECJ\u2019s analysis seems focused on the contractual terms rather than socioeconomic realities\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on Business applications<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchhrsoftware\/news\/252528176\/Gig-work-remains-popular-as-drawbacks-weigh-scrutiny-grows\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/location_g1251263484_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/location_g1251263484_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/location_g1251263484.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Gig work remains popular as drawbacks weigh, scrutiny grows<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineImages\/thibodeau_patrick.jpg\" alt=\"PatrickThibodeau\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Patrick\u00a0Thibodeau<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252518353\/Deliveroo-accused-of-soft-union-busting-with-GMB-deal\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Deliveroo-rider-Editorial-Use-Only-ifeelstock-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Deliveroo-rider-Editorial-Use-Only-ifeelstock-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Deliveroo-rider-Editorial-Use-Only-ifeelstock-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Deliveroo accused of \u2018soft union busting\u2019 with GMB deal<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252514515\/Majority-of-UK-adults-support-legal-right-to-disconnect\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/mobile-email-office-365-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/mobile-email-office-365-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/German\/article\/mobile-email-office-365-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Majority of UK adults support legal right to disconnect<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252514006\/Workplace-surveillance-spiraling-out-of-control-says-TUC\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/smartphone-security-encryption-mobile-spy-Photographee.eu-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/smartphone-security-encryption-mobile-spy-Photographee.eu-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/smartphone-security-encryption-mobile-spy-Photographee.eu-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Workplace surveillance \u2018spiralling out of control\u2019, says TUC<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365530181\/MEPs-vote-to-amend-platform-worker-directive\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Gaylene Lupo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MEPs have voted in favour of amendments to the European Commission\u2019s platform worker directive that would introduce a presumption of employment and increase algorithmic transparency By Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Senior reporter Published: 03 Feb 2023 9:26 The European Parliament has voted to adopt an amended version of a proposed platform worker directive, making it easier<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":605225,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71619,23466,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-605224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-amend","category-platform","category-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=605224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/605225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=605224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=605224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=605224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}