Spain takes lead on gig economy workers’ rights

The Spanish government has announced that it is putting itself at the forefront of the European Union in legislating to protect workers in the gig economy.

Under its plan, unions will be given access to the algorithms that digital platform companies such as Uber use to manage their workforces.

This oversight forms part of forthcoming legislation to increase protections for service sector workers, typically hired on a freelance basis, that will require employers to put them on staff contracts.

Announcing the move, employment minister Yolanda Díaz stated: “We will be the first country in the EU to legislate, de facto, over this matter in such an ambitious way.”

Last month the European Commission, announced a consultation over the rights of platform-based workers, while the UK Supreme Court ruled Uber employees are workers and not self-employed.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/trabajo14/Paginas/2021/110321-acuerdo_social.aspx

https://www.reuters.com/article/spain-tech-labour-rights-idUSL8N2L94DL