Gig economy Archives

A meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday (31 May) will look into a new compromise text on the platform work directive, seen by EURACTIV, in the hope of building a bridge between two starkly divided camps and bringing member states together ahead of a ministerial meeting in mid-June.

Uber’s Senior Vice-President Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty testified at the French ‘Uber Files’ parliamentary investigation committee on Thursday (25 May) that he could not recall an email, seen by EURACTIV, whereby he personally requested actioning the data-destruction ‘kill switch’ tool.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi appeared before the ‘Uber Files’ investigative committee of the French Parliament on Thursday (25 May), making the case that the American company had radically changed its lobbying ways in the past five years.

The Swedish presidency of the EU Council is making its third - and probably last - attempt to square the circle on the rules for gig economy workers with some light-touch changes.

A new compromise text, seen by EURACTIV, indicates the Swedish Presidency is now down to minor wording changes over a platform workers directive, which hints that the European Council might be edging closer to a deal.

Uber went all in to break the French taxi sector, all the while dodging taxes and keeping drivers in high levels of precarity, Mark MacGann, the Uber Files whistleblower, told EURACTIV France in an exclusive interview.

The Swedish presidency of the EU Council proposed narrowing down the derogation for the presumption of employment, one of the most contentious parts of the platform workers' directive, in a new attempt to bridge differences after negotiations broke down in December.

A French parliamentary 'Uber Files' investigative committee aims to shine a light on Uber’s lobbying practices, and the reality of the economy’s ‘uberisation’, while workers’ representatives want to do away with self-employment and push for general reclassification.

EU ministers have reached a common position on new rules for Airbnb, Booking.com and short-term rental platforms at break-neck speed, according to documents obtained by EURACTIV.

The Swedish presidency of the EU Council of ministers is circling back to a fundamental aspect of the Platform Workers' Directive after the previous presidency fell short of securing a majority.

After months of arduous negotiations, the much-debated and politically sensitive platform workers' file was finally approved in plenary on Thursday (2 February), with 376 in favour and 212 against.

The EU Commission's recent proposal on short-term rentals (STRs), which hones in on transparency measures and streamlines registration processes, is a step in the right direction as comprehensive data is essential to better regulate the sector, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar MEP told EURACTIV.

EURACTIV France obtained final drafts of two agreements that cab drivers and digital platforms, such as Uber, are set to sign on Wednesday, enshrining a minimum ride pay of €7.65 and setting the agenda for future negotiations.

EU lawmakers voted in favour of a platform workers’ directive compromise text at the parliamentary committee on social affairs on Monday evening (12 December) - a crucial move after months of complex and divisive negotiations.

Ministers failed to reach a deal last week over the platform workers’ directive, as concerns over the triggering of the legal presumption of employment and its derogations remain, Commissioner Nicolas Schmit told EURACTIV in an interview.

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “Unauthorised data scraping is unacceptable and against our rules, and we will continue working with our peers on this industry …

The Czech presidency’s latest compromise text on the platform workers' directive made some additional tweaks in the hope of securing a majority at a new meeting with EU ambassadors on Wednesday (30 November).

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “Providers of electronic communications networks and services shall be permitted to process electronic communications data only if it is strictly …

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “The recommendation should only focus on bringing forward the measures set out in the CER directive, not expanding them.” -A comment …

A new, third compromise text from the Czech Presidency of the EU Council on the platform workers' directive further emphasises the importance of algorithmic management and workers' personal data protection.

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “Many of our comments are prompted by our growing cooperation in this area under the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council …

Uber Files whistleblower took centre stage and slammed Uber’s “disproportionate” power over EU policy-making at a European Parliament hearing. The European social agenda is a “threat” to Uber, and one the company aims to take down, he added.

Uber and other platforms are lobbying against an ambitious EU directive on platform workers, Ludovic Voet, confederal secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), writes as Uber Files whistleblower Mark MacGann is due to testify at the European Parliament hearing on Tuesday (25 October).

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “During the WP TELECOM meeting on 25 October 2022, the Czech Presidency intends to present the changes made in the …