Internet
Heil for European protection standards for platform work
Hubertus Heil (SPD), Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, wants to make it more difficult for employees to be exploited on digital platforms. Photo: Annette Riedl/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Delivery or driving services are experiencing a boom – across borders. Cross-border protection rules for the millions of employees affected are currently being negotiated.
In view of the ever-increasing role of services via the Internet, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has spoken out in favor of new European protection standards for digital platform work.
“Many providers are active across borders,” said Heil of the German Press Agency at a meeting of EU social affairs ministers this Thursday in Luxembourg. Digitization should not be confused with exploitation, says Heil, with a view to delivery or driving services, for example. That is why Europe-wide minimum standards are needed.
The EU Commission had introduced legislative proposals according to which online platform employees should be better protected in the future. Millions of workers could therefore be classified as employees and entitled to a minimum wage and regular working hours. Today, many platform workers are considered freelancers. Heil welcomed the draft directive and said: “Having lunch delivered quickly, renting a scooter via an app or choosing the cleaner on a website – all of this makes our lives easier.” Platforms also offer low-threshold access to the labor market. However, it must be clear whether someone is employed or self-employed.
From the point of view of DGB boss Yasmin Fahimi, it is “high time that the digital shadow job market is regulated politically,” as she told the dpa. So-called gig and crowdworkers – who work independently and receive their orders via platforms – would de facto not work independently and should no longer be cheated of their employee rights. In addition, the government should address unnecessary time limits, the obstruction of works councils and the pending digital access rights for trade unions.