Thedigital platform economyhas exploded in the last few years.
According to European Commission figures, over28 million people in the EU work through digital labor platformstoday.
By 2025, their number is expected to reach 43 million.
Workforce digitalization, whichaccelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, has radically changed the European labor market.
For some people, that meansinsecure contracts and stressful working conditions.
While others are fortunate enough to freely embrace platform work as a way ofescaping the 9-to-5and increasing economic opportunities.
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There is a common saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Because the proposal has been drafted without consulting the most important stakeholders of all: freelancers and platform workers.
That has to change.
The key issue pertains to what legally defines a freelancer.
The checklist includes things like supervision of performance and quality and the employer setting the level of remuneration.
If just two of the criteria are met, the worker will legally be classed as an employee.
For example, setting prices for services and ensuring quality services are essential elements of any successful commercial relationship.
Coupling them with a presumption of employment creates all kinds of problems.
The proposal shows a lack of understanding of freelancing as well as the European labor market of today.
Of course, a lot more research is needed on this complex issue.
Its standard practice in B2B relationships that a price for services can be set between commercial partners.
There is no reason this path should be departed from when it comes to the digital sector.
The lines between traditional, full-time, and freelancing work will continue to blur.
It would be short-sighted to ignore the needs of freelancers today.
Theknowledge work economyis expanding at a rapid pace.
Flexible workers all over Europe, now and in future, are counting on them.
Glen Hodgson is CEO of the think tank Free Trade Europa & Secretary General of Freelance Movement.
