Lithuania Proposes New Rules for Digital Platform Workers

Lithuania is moving to regulate the gig economy, proposing new rules for couriers and ride-hailing drivers operating through digital platforms. The initiative aims to enhance worker rights and ensure fairer working conditions.

Social Protection and Labor Minister Jūratė Zailskienė emphasized the importance of securing the rights of platform workers. "It is important to ensure the rights of people working on digital platforms. Greater transparency, human oversight, and the right to challenge algorithmic decisions are necessary. We aim for people working through platforms in Lithuania to feel safer, have their data protected, and ensure fair working conditions," she stated.

The ministry highlighted that some platform workers face poor conditions and insufficient social protection, particularly those misclassified as self-employed. These workers lack protections under national or EU labor law and do not benefit from the autonomy typically associated with self-employment. Across the EU, an estimated 5.5 million out of 28 million platform workers might be incorrectly classified, leading to over 100 court and 15 administrative decisions on the matter.

Algorithmic management, where platforms use algorithms for task allocation, monitoring, and evaluation, can negatively impact working conditions and increase the risk of misclassification. These complex digital agreements can obscure subordination and discrimination. Workers need to understand how their behavior affects future work opportunities determined by algorithms, as this directly influences their income regardless of their employment status.

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It is important to ensure the rights of people working on digital platforms. Greater transparency, human oversight, and the right to challenge algorithmic decisions are necessary. We aim for people working through platforms in Lithuania to feel safer, have their data protected, and ensure fair working conditions.