In response to the European Commission’s proposed Directive of the European Parliament and Council on improving working conditions on platform work (hereinafter – the Draft Directive, the Directive) the Lithuanian Free Market Institute presents its study “How The Status Quo Serves Platform Workers and Consumers”.
The Study notes that the fact that individuals themselves decide to engage in platform work suggests that they regard some conditions of platform work as more advantageous, and thus more attractive. It may also be indicative of the desire to distance oneself from employment relationships and related regulatory restrictions on work activities.
The breakthrough of the gig economy was preconditioned by the laxity, or even absence, of regulation, i.e., more freedom to enterprise and act. The best way forward is to maintain the regulatory status quo of platform work, foster competition among platform operators, and establish efficient and easily accessible dispute resolution mechanisms.
