On 06 April, in the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Ecological Transition together with the Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration presented an ordinance ‘strengthening the autonomy of self-employed workers working on mobility platforms, organizing sectoral social relations, and fulfilling the missions of the Authority for Employment Platform Social Relations’, (the Arpe, L’Autorité des relations sociales des plateformes d’emploi). This text sets the framework for sectoral social dialogue, with the goal of strengthening platform workers’ social rights.

A pioneering agreement has been negotiated with trade unions that sets out the working conditions of the home delivery drivers for the online food delivery platform Just Eat, along with their rights to social protection, rest and digital disconnection. The agreement also recognises the right of employees to be informed of the content of the algorithms and artificial intelligence systems the platform uses to govern how work is distributed.

On 09 December and following a process launched in spring 2021 with the consultation of social partners, the European Commission unveiled a Directive proposal aimed at improving the working conditions of platform workers. Faced with a debate on legal status, the EU Commission chose to define a presumption of salaried status for platform workers, unless a platform does not fulfil the criteria characterising it as an employer. The directive proposal also imposes obligations on platforms over the management of their algorithms and their transparency.

Dissatisfied with the working conditions and pay offered by the young dynamic German start-up and ‘ultra-fast delivery’ platform, employees of Gorillas’ Berlin subsidiary finally succeeded in electing a works council on 27 November 2021. Throughout the process Gorillas management tried to block the election, and notably also in court. Management has also raised the possibility of changing the company's operational structures.

The bill, presented by a senator of the current ruling majority party, intends to recognize ‘digital worker’ status for platform-based vehicle for hire drivers and delivery drivers, and to guarantee that their salary rights are respected. In total, six bills aimed at regulating the employment relationship between platforms and their workers are currently awaiting consideration by Congressional labour committees. The executive branch, which is seeking to reform the Federal Labor Law accordingly, is expected to soon give the green light to the majority ruling parliamentarians.