New EU law means gig economy workers must get better working conditions

Food delivery riders in Cork at a work stoppage last February. The misclassification of workers can allow platforms to evade labour, tax, and social security legislation that apply to employees. File picture: Larry Cummins

Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo and other gig economy companies must offer better working conditions under a new EU law approved on Wednesday.

The Platform Workers Directive introduces a "presumption of an employment relationship" for workers in the gig economy that is triggered when "facts indicating control and direction are present".