Study to support the impact assessment of an EU initiative to improve the working conditions in platform work final report

This study was produced to support the impact assessment of the new EU-level legislative initiative, aimed at improving the working conditions and social rights of people working through platforms with the view to support the conditions for sustainable growth of digital labour platforms in the European Union. The initiative has been designed to address three core issues: misclassification of employment status of people working through platforms; fairness and transparency of algorithmic management practices applied by labour platforms; enforcement, transparency and traceability of platform work, including in cross-border situations. The considered policy options varied in terms of their personal scope (for example, online, on-location platforms, all platforms, etc.), material scope, and strength (binding or non-binding nature). The analysis of individual options included quantification of costs and benefits, as well as comparative analysis of effectiveness, efficiency and coherence. The policy package which scores the best in terms effectiveness, efficiency and coherence consists of a combination of policy measures. It includes, in case of potential misclassification: shifting in the burden of proof, a certification procedure and rebuttable presumption of employment applied to platforms that exercise a certain degree of control. For people experiencing algorithmic management the most effective and efficient policy option points to introducing rights related to transparency, consultation, human oversight and redress for both employed platform workers and people working through platforms as self-employed. Finally, the most effective and efficient policy combination concerning the enforcement, transparency and traceability of platform work consists of guidance/ clarification, with certain publication requirements for platforms.