1. Mark Stuart Chris Forde
Social protection for workers in the collaborative economy
European Parliament, 30th March 2017
Mark Stuart
Chris Forde

2. Background COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY exact figures remain elusive
estimates vary considerably
definitions vary considerably: platform economy, gig economy, sharing economy?
social protection challenge for policy makers

3. Aims How has the collaborative economy evolved?
What are the implications and challenges for social protection?
Research ongoing – interim findings reported today

4. What is the collaborative economy?
Capital intensive Labour intensive
Market Non-market
Triangular Two-way
Delivered online Delivered in person

5. Characteristics of collaborative economy working
Younger workforce
Often done in addition to main job
‘Transactional’ engagement by workers
Mostly low paid, but some high paid

6. Legal issues at national and EU level
Definitions of ‘worker’
Excludes many in the collaborative economy
Challenges of employment and social protection
Diverse configurations of employment arrangements

7. The meaning of the collaborative economy
DIFFERING PERCEPTIONS OF THE COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY
‘Gig’ ‘sharing’, ‘platform’ economy
Intermediaries /platforms ‘key disrupters’
EU and US: many similarities

8. Results: Size/scope of collaborative economy
Little consensus
Broad measures : ‘use any kind of platform’; ‘participate in on-demand economy’
Narrow: ‘Paid work via online platform’ (in last week/month)
Country-specific variations
Benefits and costs

9. Results: Social protection
Recognised challenges
Variations across countries
Better protection - well-established forms of working
Intermediaries/platforms – creating/exploiting gaps?
Protection not keeping pace with change

10. Extending social protection
Universal basic income
Social security reform
-statute of basic rights
-legal reform
Transaction taxes
Representation through unions, intermediaries, co-operatives