Keywords
work on demand
legal status
presumed employment relationship
Abstract
The 'gig-economy' or 'on demand work' is an embodiment of the digitised labour market, created and developed with the help of digital work platforms that can take the form of mobile applications. In theory, the relationship between platforms and workers is not a labour relationship, i.e. it is not continuous. In practice, however, the control exercised over the service provided can be interpreted as a manifestation of authority by the employer. In an attempt to align factual reality and appropriate qualification, this paper presents two similar approaches, namely the Proposal for a Directive on the improvement of working conditions for work on platforms and the 'ABC test' applicable in California. In our analysis we present the legal presumptions on which these interpretations are based and show the possible implications.
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