MADRID, 17 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, has promoted a letter at the ministerial level, signed by Spain and seven other European countries, calling on the Czech Presidency of the European Union (EU) that the directive on digital platforms be “demanding and ambitious” with the defense of workers’ rights.
As highlighted on Monday by the Ministry of Labor, Díaz has obtained the support of the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Slovenia and Malta in this letter.
The objective, explains the Ministry in a statement, is to ensure that the directive collects and strengthens the labor and social protection rights that correspond to the workers of digital platforms, as well as transparent management of the algorithms that define their working conditions.
The second vice-president, who positively values the proposal for a directive, has pointed out that it is necessary to be “as ambitious as possible” with this directive. “We continue negotiating to obtain more support within the Union. We cannot let the rights of working people be weakened in this new labor framework opened by digital platforms,” she stressed.
The purpose of this directive, which is intended to be applied to all types of digital platforms, is the correct classification as employees of those who provide their services on the platforms and put an end to the figure of “false self-employed”.
In addition, the aim is also to guarantee fairness, transparency and accountability in the management of algorithms. In this way, it will be ensured that workers and their representatives have the right to be informed about the algorithms used in the configuration and organization of their work, as well as about automated decision-making in companies.
The letter also claims to strengthen the control by the Labor Inspectorates over the companies in the sector to guarantee compliance with the law.
Spain promotes this proposal after having launched the so-called Rider Law in May 2021, with which labor rights are guaranteed to people dedicated to distribution on digital platforms.
The European Commission approved on December 9 a proposal for a directive that is being debated in the Social Affairs Group of the European Council and that will be analyzed in December in the Council of Ministers of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers (EPSCO). Subsequently, it will be negotiated with the European Parliament.
