Agnes Jongerius wants better EU protection for platform workers

The European Parliament will discuss on Monday better EU rules for the social rights of workers, and a proposal from Dutch MEP Agnes Jongerius (PvdA) on protection for platform workers. On that same day, a court in the Netherlands will also rule on the rights of Uber drivers.

“It is high time for recognition and social protection,” says Jongerius. She will debate on Monday with the European Parliament about her amendments on social rights for people working through an online platform who are forced into ‘bogus self-employment.’

According to her, these platform workers do not receive a fair wage, do not build up social rights, and do not get sick leave. On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on Jongerius’ proposal to combat this bogus self-employment.

“Platform workers must receive the same protection as any other employee, and platforms must follow the same rules as any other company. In my proposal, we reverse the burden of proof. Platform workers automatically become employees and will no longer have to claim their rights individually. No longer must the platform worker go to court, but the platform,” Jongerius said in a press release.

Companies like Uber and Deliveroo have built their business model by pretending platform workers are ‘self-employed’ to reduce their labor costs. “While the profits go to the companies, they shift the risks onto the platform workers,” Jongerius says. “By reversing the burden of proof, real self-employed people can operate freely, but all other platform workers are protected.”

In many European countries, platform workers and trade unions have filed lawsuits. In the Netherlands, the union FNV has initiated a lawsuit against Uber demanding that Uber recognize the drivers as employees and pay them according to collective labor agreements. “We hope for a positive ruling on Monday,” says Jongerius.

Together with the lawsuits, the European Parliament’s proposal sends a strong signal to the European Commission. “It is now up to the Commission to propose strong legislation that reverses the burden of proof and thereby puts an end to bogus self-employment.”