On October 15, 2025, the Public Policy Research Center held the third workshop in its ongoing series on the transposition of the EU Platform Work Directive into national legislation. The aim of the event was to highlight the key challenges and diverse legal approaches that EU Member States are applying in the implementation process.
This workshop is part of a broader consultative effort to support the transposition of the Directive into Serbia’s labour law.
The focus of this session was on national practices in Poland and Germany.
The workshop “Navigating the EU Directive on Platform Work at the National Level” was held on October 15, 2025, organized by the Public Policy Research Center. The event explored the challenges and legal approaches EU Member States are taking in transposing the Platform Work Directive into their national legislation.
The discussion focused on the national practices of Poland and Germany, presented by leading experts in the field.
Dr. Karol Muszyński from the University of Warsaw addressed the lack of systemic regulation for platform work in Poland, emphasizing the complex contractual arrangements that hinder workers’ access to rights. He pointed to the widespread use of contracts governed by administrative law and reliance on intermediary firms, which further complicates workers’ legal status and undermines mechanisms for labor protection.
Dr. Jonas Specht, a researcher at the Hans Böckler Foundation (Hans-Böckler-Stiftung) in Germany, shared insights into the struggles of food delivery workers employed through the platform Lieferando. He highlighted recent strikes, demands for more secure working conditions, and the critical need for formal recognition of employment status. Special attention was given to the challenges of subcontracting through intermediary firms and the Directive’s implementation in establishing independent communication channels between workers and unions — free from platform oversight.
The workshop brought together researchers, legal experts, and labor ministry representatives from various countries to exchange experiences and reflect on the complexities of implementing the Directive nationally. Discussions underscored both opportunities for improving legal frameworks and the risks of ineffective enforcement. The key takeaway: a long-term, comprehensive approach is essential for regulating platform-based labour.
This workshop is part of the AMPLIFY project – Advancing the EU Platform Work Directive and AI Governance in Serbia, implemented by the Public Policy Research Center with support from the Olof Palme Center.
If you are interested in future workshops, you can register by contacting:
office@publicpolicy.rs
