El trabajo en plataformas digitales se sirve de una plataforma en línea para permitir que empresas o particulares tengan acceso a otras empresas o particulares para resolver cuestiones específicas o prestar servicios concretos a cambio de una remuneración. Las tareas más amplias se dividen en tareas independientes más pequeñas, realizadas, por encargo, por trabajadores de la plataforma, lo que da lugar a una división extendida del trabajo.
Across the EU, many different terms are used to refer to platform-based activity. For example, the European Commission and Parliament often refer to the ‘sharing economy’ or ‘collaborative economy’. However, these terms comprise a broader scope of online activities, going beyond paid work to encompass the trade of material or capital goods as well as non-commercial activities.
In June 2016, the Commission adopted its European Agenda for the Collaborative Economy, clarifying the concept of platform work and providing guidance on the employment status of platform workers. The European Pillar of Social Rights, officially proclaimed in November 2017, aims to address some of the policy challenges associated with new forms of employment, including platform work. As part of the Pillar’s roll-out initiatives, in June 2019 the European Parliament and Council announced the new Directive 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions, which also covers platform work. In November 2019, the Council also adopted the Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed, including reference to platform workers.
New EU regulations on platform-to-business relations entered into force in July 2019. The new rules aim to create a fair, transparent and predictable business environment for smaller businesses and traders when using online platforms. The EU also set up a dedicated Online Platform Observatory to monitor the evolution of the market and the effective implementation of these rules.
In its January 2020 Communication on building a strong social Europe for just transitions, the Commission highlights the need for improved working conditions of platform works for the sustainable growth of the platform economy. This objective is mirrored in the Commission’s work programme 2020, adjusted in May in response to COVID-19.
Eurofound’s work on platform work links in with the Commission’s 2019–2024 priority on a Europe fit for the digital age.
Eurofound research on new forms of employment across the EU identified platform work as one of nine employment forms that are gaining increasing importance since 2000. As platform work continues to grow and diversify, ongoing research looks at the employment and working conditions of selected types of platform work.
Eurofound is also focusing on assessing the effectiveness of policy initiatives to tackle identified challenges related to platform workers’ employment and working conditions.
Key topics relate to the representation of platform workers, negotiation of working conditions, provision of insurance and social protection or taxation. The Agency will continue to monitor the evolution of the platform economy through its web repository.
Eurofound has identified 10 types of platform work that as of 2017 have reached some critical mass in Europe as regards the number of platforms and affiliated active workers. The main differences between these types are in the scale of tasks, the format of service provision (whether the tasks are delivered locally or online), the level of skills required, the process by which client is matched to worker (offer of work versus contest) and the party that determines the work allocation.
An online platform economy repository, compiled by Eurofound, aims to bring together a range of information on this subject. It includes more detail on Eurofound’s typology of platform work, a range of dossiers offering analysis and context on key issues emerging in the platform economy, as well as a range of initiatives aiming to tackle emerging issues. The repository also provides specific information related to platform work and COVID-19.
Eurofound has also carried out a mapping of studies measuring the platform economy, which outlines the methods used and their limitations, and discusses the options to address data gaps.
Together with the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), it has analysed the motivation of workers to engage in platform work, with a special focus on gender differences.
With a forward-looking approach, Eurofound developed scenarios of how platform work in Europe could look by 2030, and the likely implications on the economy, labour market and society. These ‘potential futures’ indicate the opportunities and risks of the various development pathways and also put forward what policy could do to realise desirable and avoid undesirable futures.
Eurofound research on emerging or new forms of employment across the EU identified platform work as one of nine employment forms that are gaining increasing importance since 2000.
Larger tasks are divided into independent smaller tasks, which are carried out on-demand by platform workers, resulting in a widespread division of labour.
Eurofound research on emerging or new forms of employment across the EU identified platform work as one of nine employment forms that are gaining increasing importance since 2000. As platform work continues to grow and diversify, further research looks at the employment and working conditions of selected types of platform work.
Eurofound has identified 10 types of platform work that as of 2017 have reached some critical mass in Europe as regards the number of platforms and affiliated workers. The main differences between these types are in the scale of tasks, the format of service provision (whether the tasks are delivered locally or online), the level of skills required, the process by which client is matched to worker (offer of work versus competition) and the party that determines the work allocation.
An online platform economy repository, compiled by Eurofound, aims to bring together a range of information on this subject. It includes more detail on Eurofound’s typology of platform work, a range of dossiers offering analysis and context on key issues emerging in the platform economy, a database of publications, as well as a range of initiatives aiming to tackle emerging issues. The repository now also provides specific information related to platform work and COVID-19.
Eurofound has also carried out a mapping of studies measuring the platform economy, which outlines the methods used and their limitations, and discusses the options to address data gaps.
With a forward-looking approach, Eurofound developed scenarios of how platform work in Europe could look by 2030, and the likely implications on the economy, labour market and society. These ‘potential futures’ indicate the opportunities and risks of the various development pathways and also put forward what should be considered to realise desirable and avoid undesirable futures.
Other ongoing work
Research continues in this topic on a variety of themes, which are outlined below with links to forthcoming titles.
