Evenimente

The digital revolution is transforming our personal and professional lives. It is changing the way businesses operate and interact with customers. Digitalisation opens up new opportunities for innovative forms of work where people can deliver services through platforms. New business and organisational models, such as the platform economy, are disrupting existing industries and creating new digital labour markets.
The most common platform business model is an online marketplace to match supply and demand in the labour market. It often refers to jobs in occupations such as delivery drivers, taxi drivers, cleaners and handymen, but also software developers, data analysts, designers, translators and consultants. 

Platform workers are managed by algorithms that influence work allocation and pay; they also collect data on workers that can be used to increase monitoring. Non-standard working relationships with digital platform operators increase the risks for platform workers. They have low bargaining power and weak control over their work. This is particularly evident in delivery and transport activities, where workers are field-based, lower skilled and subject to high levels of platform control. Platform workers also face isolation, higher work intensity, long working hours and digital monitoring and surveillance, all of which can lead to high levels of stress. 

In 2021, the European Commission estimated that there are more than 500 digital platforms active in the EU, through which around 28 million people work, of whom around 22.5 million are correctly classified as workers or (most) as self-employed. The remaining 5.5 million are likely to be at risk from misclassification of employment status, even though they work mostly or exclusively for one employer. The number of platform workers is expected to rise to 43 million by 2025.

The employment status of platform workers is a major problem, limiting their access to protection. As platform workers are usually self-employed, they are responsible for their own health and safety at work. Platforms argue that they are not obliged to take measures to increase protection for platform workers.  That is why on 24 April 2024, the European Parliament adopted a directive setting out new rules to improve the working conditions of platform workers.

The webinar organised by the Slovenian Focal Point will discuss the working conditions of platform workers and will also present the above-mentioned Directive.

Moderator:

• Vida PETROVČIČ, Journalist

Speakers:

• Nikolaj PETRIŠIČ, MSc, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department (Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities)
• Dr Maja BREZNIK, Researcher (The Peace Institute)
• Laura MRČELA, Junior Researcher (Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana)
• ZAP FITCORP, Occupational Medicine, Traffic and Sports
• Darija PERŠE ZORETIČ, MSc, Secretary (Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities)