The European Commission has published an inception impact assessment as part of the process that aims at ensuring that EU competition rules do not stand in the way of collective bargaining for those who need it.
Digitization is profoundly affecting the way people work, creating new opportunities also in the labor markets. Evidence shows for instance that a growing number of individuals engage in platform work. However, digitization can also create challenges for individuals and put pressure on working conditions, reported EU Reporter.
These challenges are also present in certain forms of self-employment outside the platform economy. European competition rules do not apply to collective bargaining by workers but collective bargaining by self-employed considered as “undertakings” could be caught by competition rules.
In the inception impact assessment, the Commission has set out initial options to clarify that, provided that certain conditions are met, working conditions can be improved through collective agreements not only for employees but also for those self-employed who need protection, in line with EU competition rules.
The Commission proposes to assess these different options through an impact assessment. The published inception impact assessment is an opportunity for the public and for all relevant stakeholders to comment on the form and scope of the initiative. Stakeholders are invited to provide input by 03/02/2021. A more detailed public consultation, based on a questionnaire, will take place during the first quarter of 2021.
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