A national and local answer to the challenges of the platform economy in Italy

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Digital platform workers’ rights in the areas of occupational safety and health, working hours and compensation are not clearly established under existing labour laws in most European Union countries.  

This case study highlights the main features of the Italian regulation applicable to digital platform work and the initiative of the Municipality of Bologna, in northern Italy, to protect platform workers (mainly food-delivery riders) by introducing the ‘Charter of Fundamental Rights of Digital Labour in the Urban Context’. The Charter, voluntarily adopted at regional level, also influenced legislation at national level to recognise rights of self-employed delivery riders. It has become a model in other regions of Italy and could inspire policy-makers throughout Europe.

According to stakeholders, several platforms implemented measures of the Charter and working conditions improved for delivery riders. They recommend measures that should be extended to other types of platform workers.   

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