The European Parliament has approved new EU rules to protect workers in the so-called “gig economy”.
The law sets minimum rights and demands increased transparency for those in “on-demand” jobs, such as at Uber or Deliveroo.
It proposes more predictable hours and compensation for cancelled work, and an end to “abusive practices” around casual contracts.
Member states will now have at most three years to enforce the new rules.
The European Parliament says the new legislation will apply to “the most vulnerable employees on atypical contracts and in non-standard jobs” – including those on zero-hour contracts.
Employees in EU member states already enjoy a wide range of protections to working hours, minimum breaks and holiday entitlement.
But casual employees in the “gig economy” – who may work multiple jobs on a flexible basis, or on erratic hours – have fallen into a grey area.
The UK will only be obliged to implement the law if it is still a member state of the EU three years after the new regulation enters into force. But it has already introduced similar legislation at a national level.
