Freelance work through digital platforms in the EU gives millions of professionals – such as graphic designers, child carers, delivery couriers, taxi drivers and many others – the ability to build fulfilling livelihoods on their own terms: freelancers can choose when, where and how they work, and be their own bosses. 

The way we choose to work and live is now under threat from how the EU Platform Work Directive will be implemented across Europe. We want better protection and benefits compatible with our way of working. We do not want forced reclassification into employment structures we don't want, taking away the flexibility and freedom we actively choose.

We demand that national politicians listen and respect the voice of those who are directly impacted by this legislation as they set about implementing it:

Give us the power to negotiate: Make it easier for us freelancers to negotiate – either individually or as a group – with platforms on our working conditions, including compensation, social protections, and benefits.

Protect our flexibility: Ensure our right to freely choose when to work, without any notice and without any schedules imposed upon us.

Protect our independence: Ensure our freedom to select which tasks we choose to accept or reject, without being directed by a boss.

Protect our entrepreneurship: Provide certainty to operate as self-employed and to build our business by providing services to different partners, including competing platforms.

Let us preserve the freedom and flexibility to #BeYourOwnBoss and ensure a fair and inclusive future for all platform workers! Sign the petition today at https://chng.it/rmC94yP7W4 and share it with your friends and colleagues.

Want to get involved? Send an email to glen@freetradeeuropa.eu and share your story why you believe it’s important to protect freelance workers in the EU. 

The EU institutions recognise that the Platform Economy has grown exponentially in recent years. Their figures highlight that revenues have increasing from an estimated €3 billion to around €14 billion between 2016 and 2020, and the number of platform workers in Europe is expected to reach 43 million by 2025.

Context

Against this background there is a push to classify platform workers and freelancers - without consulting them - and give them a traditional employment status, despite the fact that the majority of them do not want this.

The European Commission published a proposal for legislation COM (2021) 762 to this end back in December 2021. This proposal included a list of five criteria covering level of remuneration; rules on appearance and conduct; performance of work and quality standards; choice of working hours; and possibility to work for third parties. If two of these criteria were met, then an individual would be deemed to be an employee under the terms of the proposal.

After years of discussion, the EU institutions reached an agreement on the text in March 2023.

Next steps

Given that the EU Employment & Social Affairs Council have reached a compromise on the Platform Economy Worker Rights Directive, this is now likely to be formally adopted in September 2024. EU Member States will then have two years to implement the legislation. Given that the Directive is rather vague, it leaves significant room for national discretion when implementation begins. We therefore need to be active in our lobbying to shape the national texts at the earliest opportunity. 

To do so, we will be highlighting and amplifying the voice of freelancers through our petition, reports and studies. We will also be holding workshops and events with national decision-makers and stakeholders to influence the implementation process.

Need for action now

In order for politicians and decision-makers to listen to the voice of freelancers, we have instigated this EU petition. We will hand over the signatures to national legislators on an ongoing basis, as we did to European Politicians in October 2023.