The EC identified challenges related to online platform work, such as employment status and the availability of information to the workers about their working conditions, and delineates some policy implications for ensuring protection of platform workers.
In its position paper the Lithuanian Free Market Institute argues that challenges facing platform workers are primarily caused by overly-rigid labor market regulations. LFMI points out that the sharing economy has basically evolved as an attempt to avoid rigid labor regulations and it relies heavily on inter-personal trust, connections, feedback, and market mechanisms. The focal point of LFMI’s argumentation is that the interaction between the platform worker and the online platform operator is based on the provision of services rather than employment – the platform worker simply purchases platform connectivity services from the platform operator, therefore social protection is out of scope of such a relationship. Accordingly policy alternatives and advise against government intervention on the part of the EU or Member States is provided.
Full Position Paper on the European Commission’s Report on the Working Conditions of Platform Workers can be found here.
