European Union (EU) member states have supported the controversial rules determining when gig economy workers should be treated as employees, marking the end of deliberations over the draft text.

According to AFP, following weeks of negotiations and revisions to the text, most EU employment and social affairs ministers convened in Brussels and endorsed the compromised agreement on Monday. 

Classifying Gig Workers in the EU

The approved rules, which still require formal approval, empower individual EU nations to establish their own criteria for classifying gig workers as employees.

Initially conceived in 2021 to establish standardized regulations to enhance worker conditions within platforms like Uber, the final agreement grants considerable autonomy to member states in defining employment status criteria. 

The path to consensus was fraught with obstacles, notably due to France's opposition, which compelled negotiators to revisit the text in February after an impasse arose in December. 

The revised agreement, though seen as a compromise, has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing disappointment over what they perceive as a weakened version of the original proposal.

Belgium, which holds the EU presidency, persisted in its efforts to broker an agreement and rallied member states' support during Monday's ministerial meeting. 

Despite initial resistance from countries like Estonia and Greece, a majority ultimately endorsed the deal, marking a significant breakthrough in the protracted negotiations.

While Germany indicated its intention to abstain from voting, France expressed readiness to approve the compromise text pending further amendments to address concerns regarding the automatic reclassification of platform workers as employees. 

French officials emphasized the need for clear guarantees and interpretations to safeguard against unintended consequences.

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28 Million Gig Workers

The regulations hold significant implications for the estimated 28 million gig workers across Europe, with concerns raised about the misclassification of a substantial portion as self-employed individuals. 

Once ratified by the European Parliament, the revised agreement is expected to introduce enhanced rights and protections for platform workers while preserving the platforms' operational flexibility.

While proponents have hailed the approval by EU member states as a step in the right direction, industry groups, particularly those representing ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt, have expressed reservations. 

Move EU, an association representing these platforms, voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of harmonization across the EU, citing increased legal uncertainty for ride-hailing drivers.

In response to the approved regulations, Uber urged EU member states to enact national laws to protect platform workers while respecting their desire for autonomy. 

The company emphasized the need for a balanced approach that safeguards worker rights without compromising their independence.

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