EU edges closer to protecting rights of 'gig economy' workers

EU ministers review definition of employee status for food delivery and other digital platform workers; taxi dispatch workers seek to retain their self-employed status

European Union discussions on the proposed Platform Workers Directive are likely to redefine millions of EU-based 'gig economy' workers as employees rather than self-employed in a bid to give them added labour rights.

Workers on digital platforms will soon be entitled to the same labour and social rights granted to employees under EU law.

The European Union is supporting a proposal that will protect the labour rights of any workers registered for work with digital platforms, but currently classified as self-employed.