Recent updates on the social protection of platform-based workers in the UK, Italy and Sweden

Over the last few months, the issue of social protections for platform-based workers has entered in the public debate of our three case-studies.

In the UK, 66 MPs across political parties condemned dismissals by apps in parliament, via an Early Day motion recognising the key work played by gig workers throughout Covid-19. In early November, a judicial review in the High Court ruled that the UK government failed to uphold necessary EU health and safety directives at work for gig workers.

In Italy one year after the government decree to improve the social protection of gig workers, measures have not yet been implemented and collective agreements have not been reached. In the meantime, the agreement announced in September between Italian food delivery platforms (including Deliveroo, Glovo and Uber) and the far-right affiliated UGL union received intense criticism by other workers’ unions. The Italian Ministry of Labour itself questioned the validity of the agreement for its denial of legally required hourly wages. Dialogue with the major unions and the ministry around couriers’ working conditions and rights are ongoing.
 
In Sweden, over the last months, the public Work Environment Authority's inquiry into working conditions across 25 platforms has recommended platforms like Taskrunner and Foodora to have a more effective management of workplace injuries as part of the attempt to recognise their employers’ responsibilities.   

These discussions all highlight the ongoing gaps and challenges to ensure welfare for gig workers that we’re exploring in our research.