“In their ideal world, the platforms, you should say nothing, smile politely, ‘Hello, Sir’, ‘Goodbye’, climb the stairs, deliver, never fall, never have an accident, never complain… Before, we used to be paid €5, now it’s €2.60, you can’t say anything. Go ahead and drive! And if you’re delivering warm stuff, forget about red lights but don’t die please!”

This quote from a young delivery rider illustrates the subordination of the labour force that lies at the heart of the platform economy: an ecosystem governed by the tyranny of algorithms.

How are these workers cared for, when they face multiple hazards with minimal protection? What are their social protection needs?

These questions are at the heart of debates around the Social Security Financing Bill for 2022 presented last September in France.

Meanwhile, in December, the European Commission released a proposal to improve working conditions for platform workers that establishes a presumption of employee status. The proposal seeks to promote quality jobs in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights.