Tomorrow, the European Union can write history again by brokering a deal on protecting platform workers, urge the Socialists and Democrats ahead of a key meeting of negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states.

Elisabetta Gualmini, S&D vice-president and European Parliament’s rapporteur on the new EU legislation on platform work, said:

“Our entire team in the European Parliament is wholeheartedly committed to find an agreement with the Belgian Presidency to ensure an effective European legislation that will give dignity, protection and rights to platform workers.

“After the failure to get a majority among EU member states on the historic provisional agreement reached in December, tomorrow is our last chance. I hope that EU member states now finally feel the responsibility to deliver a good law for platform workers just as much as we do.

“30 million platform workers are watching us. All of Europe, and many beyond our borders, are watching us. We have an opportunity to protect all workers in the digital era and be the pioneers in the global labour law. Let’s not waste it!”

Note to editors:

Platform workers use an app or a website to offer services in exchange for payment. Many platforms hire them as bogus self-employed, depriving them from decent wages and labour rights, defrauding public tax systems and creating unfair competition towards genuinely self-employed, SMEs, traditional companies and platforms abiding by the law.