News item | 11-03-2024 | 08:28
Vulnerable platform workers are better protected and false self-employment is prevented. Agreements will also be made on the use of algorithms in the platform economy. At the same time, platform companies will receive clearer rules and a more level playing field, allowing them to innovate further. Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment today reached an agreement on this together with her European colleagues. The Netherlands has been strongly committed to this European directive.
Minister Van Gennip: Happy with this agreement and this historic milestone. We protect vulnerable workers while at the same time creating a more level playing field, allowing companies to continue to innovate. This makes Europe a forerunner and sets a standard for the world on how to deal with modern work.
Platform companies have developed rapidly, and their services are also in high demand. At the same time, platform workers are still too often wrongly classified as self-employed. Thanks to the agreements made today, platform workers will soon be able to demonstrate more quickly that they are an employee through an effective legal presumption, if that is the practice. It is also up to the platform companies to refute this. This ensures equal starting points in Europe and therefore a more level playing field for companies.
The rules for algorithmic management provide more transparency. Also, someone can no longer be fired via an app. For important decisions such as dismissal or a reduction in work, a decision must come from a human being.
After the agreement has been formally ratified by the European Parliament, member states have two years to implement the directive.