2024-03-11 21:26:25
EU member states want to create better working conditions for delivery service and taxi drivers. However, there is disagreement in the traffic light government.
Millions of delivery service and taxi drivers on large online platforms can hope for better working conditions in the EU. The member states spoke out in favor of new requirements in order to better prevent bogus self-employment, as the Belgian EU Council Presidency announced on Monday. The European Parliament still has to approve the project. A majority is likely.
According to information from the EU states, almost 30 million people in the Union work as so-called platform workers. According to the new rules, if there is evidence that employees are being monitored in the future, it will be assumed that they are employees and not self-employed. The burden of proof lies with the platforms – they have to prove that there is no employment relationship. Employees can also receive better access to sick pay, unemployment benefits or income support, according to the information.
In addition, automated monitoring or decision-making systems should be prohibited from using certain data. This includes biometric data or the emotional or psychological state of employees.
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Lieferando: Should not lead to higher prices
The new directive should not lead to higher prices for customers, at least at the food supplier Lieferando. The company is already employing all drivers on a regular basis, “with all the appropriate salaries and rights for the employees,” Lieferando recently announced. “Accordingly, we believe the directive can be implemented in a cost-neutral manner, in favor of better industry standards.”
The driving service provider Uber said that the status of employees would be decided from country to country and from court to court. EU countries are being asked to create national laws that offer protection while preserving the independence of drivers. It also said: “In Germany – taking into account the local legal situation – we work exclusively with delivery and fleet partners who employ the couriers and drivers.” Other platforms such as freelancer.com did not initially respond to the voting result.
Negotiators from the EU states and Parliament had actually already agreed on a compromise twice. But the deals fell through again and further discussions were needed. Above all, it was difficult to find a majority within the EU states, which also failed because of the federal government.
The federal government is divided
Berlin abstained from the decision on Monday because there are different views on the project. FDP representatives in particular spoke out against the law. The deputy federal chairman Johannes Vogel recently described the proposed platform rules as “an attack on all self-employed people in Europe”. Independence is a central and necessary part of a modern working world. The Commission’s initiative therefore does not go too far, but in the wrong direction. “It cannot be the case that self-employed people should be turned into employees against their will,” said Vogel.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said on Monday: “If you are not able to compromise, you cannot help shape things. I personally very much regret the voting behavior.” It is important that digitalization in working life is not confused with exploitation. Heil welcomed the fact that the new directive still found a majority. “False self-employment and precarious working conditions are being pushed back.” Criticism of German voting behavior also comes from the Greens. “This is a failure on the part of Chancellor Scholz,” said MEP Rasmus Andresen. The new rules are a huge success.
According to reports, France also did not vote in favor of the plan. “I am glad that Estonia and Greece are now speaking out in favor of regulating platform work and are putting Scholz and Macron aside with their stance,” said CDU MEP Dennis Radtke. It is important that there is a reversal of the burden of proof for more than five million bogus self-employed people. “Anyone who will continue to be forced into false self-employment in the future can finally defend themselves.” The FDP European MP Svenja Hahn, however, is very critical of the reversal of the burden of proof. This forces all people who offer their services via digital platforms to be employed.