"EU Seeks More Protection for Uber-Style Jobs," 24 September 2017

The European Commission wants more social protection and rights for casual workers, such as those in the "gig economy", and others with non-standard contracts to try to tackle growing social inequality. The Commission's consultation document on these plans, seen by Reuters, is part of a broader reworking of the EU's economic priorities, after pressure from populist forces that accuse Brussels of having pursued ultra-liberal policies to the detriment of workers. The document proposes a substantial review of EU's social rights that could partly limit workers' flexibility and reduce the growing insecurity caused by new types of jobs offered by firms like Uber and food-delivery service Deliveroo.

Brussels is proposing to extend full social protection and other forms of security to all workers, including those on very short-term, part-time and zero-hour contracts who in some EU member countries have lower safeguards... The Commission's proposals could raise costs for companies like Uber, which is already facing legal disputes in several EU countries and has not had its license renewed in London...