Platform companies are proposing a social agreement at the formation table. The platforms want to offer platform workers better protection without limiting the flexibility that platform workers value. By speaking with platform workers, rather than only about them, platforms, platform workers and the government can jointly create the framework to offer platform workers the best of both worlds.
With a social agreement, the platform companies want to reach agreements on preserving the benefits of platform work for platform workers - such as flexible and accessible work - and improving social protection for platform workers. Deliveroo, Helpling, Temper, Roamler, YoungOnes and Uber want to come together with policymakers, platform companies and platform workers to strengthen - rather than eliminate - self-employment with industry-wide minimum standards, ensuring the flexibility that platform workers believe is most important.
The platforms propose to start the discussion on the basis of five pillars, in line with the themes identified by the European Parliament as focal points for platform work:
- Flexible and accessible work;
- Working conditions and income;
- A social safety net and opportunities for development;
- Protection against unilateral and far-reaching decisions by the platform; and
- Participation and social dialogue.
Platform work is highly valued because of the flexibility it offers. Many platform workers specifically choose to do this work because they want to decide when, where and how often they offer their services.
In recent years, there have been extensive debates on the social protection of platform workers. The platform companies are working to improve protection, but with the current regulations this would automatically be at the expense of flexibility for platform workers.
New government
The formation of the new cabinet offers an opportunity to create new policy and to make platform work future-proof. The platforms have sent a proposal to the informateur and the negotiators of VVD, D66, CDA, GroenLinks, PvdA, SP and ChristenUnie to start a discussion in which platform workers will also participate.
Stijn Verstijnen, general manager Deliveroo Netherlands: "We are happy to join forces with these platforms to call for a social contract. Thanks in part to our delivery drivers, restaurants have been able to keep running in recent months, and we look forward to being able to offer them more protection through a social agreement, without having to lose their flexibility."
Michelle van Os, Managing Director Helpling Netherlands: "It would be a nice step forward if we could create a better social safety net for platform workers through a social agreement, without losing the accessibility and flexibility of working through a platform."
Wiggert de Haan, Co-founder Roamler: "Our platform gives professionals the opportunity to pick up tasks when and where they want to and can thus optimise their schedule. We like to do our part to do even more for these people."
Niels Arntz, co-founder Temper; "It would be great if, with a platform agreement, we could offer better protection to our flexible side-earners without them having to give up their freedom."
Maurits Schönfeld, Director Northern Europe at Uber: "In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the platform workers but little with the platform workers themselves. The voice of the drivers is still not heard enough. We hope that the board of directors will accept our offer and start a social dialogue about the future of platform work."
Pim Graafmans, Managing Director of YoungOnes: "Now is the time to really start listening to the users of platforms."
