After two years of negotiations, a final agreement on the Platform Work Directive has been reached.
The legislation on the algorithmic management of work and the status of platform workers has been welcomed with optimism, despite the fact that much of its application is left to the discretion of individual member states in terms of the legal presumption of employment. Another key improvement is that the new rules will require platforms to provide human oversight of decisions such as account suspensions, and to make key information about their activities and the people working through them available to national authorities.
Meanwhile, the latest European Parliament Eurobarometer, a regular cross-country public opinion survey carried out on behalf of the EU institutions, shows that the rising cost of living is the main concern of the general public. Respondents are worried about the impact of rising prices, including energy and food, as well as housing, jobs and daily expenses.
The rise in the cost of living also creates financial challenges and a sense of insecurity for workers providing services through digital platforms.
A review of European countries where the platform economy has gained traction reveals a notable increase in the cost of living for workers in delivery and transport services, as well as remote online workers.
The WageIndicator data analysis examined the work-related items that have seen the most significant price increases over the past year in a number of countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK.
The majority of countries (4 out of 5) have seen a significant increase in the cost of cars, including electric vehicles. Germany has seen the largest increase, with the price of electric cars rising by 16.78% compared to 2023.
In France, motorcycles, which are often used for deliveries, have also seen a significant increase: +34%.
From the perspective of online remote workers, the costs incurred cover a wide range. The most significant cost was the increase in the cost of laptops in Italy (+12.47%). However, in the UK and Spain, there was an increase in the cost of Wi-Fi (+3.52%) and power banks for charging mobile phones (+5.61%).
Curiously, among the items of clothing used by drivers and riders during their work, the item with the highest price volatility is the jacket. Price increases were recorded in the United Kingdom (+24%), France (+18%) and Italy (+14%).
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