Assumptions and participants in social dialogue regarding digital platforms with an emphasis on Serbia
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the possibilities of social dialogue on digital platforms and the role of trade unions in protecting the rights of digital workers. The paper starts with the assumption that the digitalisation of work leads to radical changes in the labour sphere, resulting in new forms of employment and regulatory challenges. The analysis covers the definition of the status of digital workers, EU regulations, the position of trade unions, and a case study of Serbia, where digital work is on the rise but under unregulated conditions. The concluding considerations highlight the necessity of social dialogue on digital platforms, which requires amendments to existing labour legislation by expanding the definition of workers, defining platforms as employers, and enabling trade unions to collectively organize these workers.
References
Agreement of January 18, 2023 relating to the method and means of negotiation in the VTC platform sector (2023). Autorite des relations sociales des plateformes demploi 18. Janvier 2023. [In French]
Anđelković, B. et al. (2018). Gigeconomy in Serbia: Who are the digital workers from Serbia and why do they work on global platforms? Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. [In Serbian]
Anđelković, B. et al. (2020a). Gigmetar Serbia, February 2020. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/4hYDJyn
Anđelković, B. et al. (2020b). Gigmetar Serbia, May 2020. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3DacotT
Anđelković, B. et al. (2020c). Hell drivers: Is there decent work on digital platforms for the delivery and transportation of passengers in Serbia. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. [In Serbian]
Anđelković, B. et al. (2021). Gigmetar Serbia, October 2021. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3D2Sjpt
Anđelković, B. et al. (2022a). Gigmetar Serbia, May 2022. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3CV2koJ
Anđelković, B. et al. (2022b). Gigmetar Serbia, October 2022. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3QzFndN
Anđelković, B. et al. (2023a). Gigmetar Serbia, May 2023. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/43abqIC
Anđelković, B. et al. (2023b). Gigmetar Serbia, October 2023. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3Mn5O46
Anđelković, B. et al. (2024). Gigmetar Serbia, May 2024. Beograd: Centar za istraživanje javnih politika. Available at: https://bit.ly/3Z3zx9X
Basso, F. (2018, June 3). The Riders’ Battle. Deliveroo and Foodora: No to Local Agreements. Corriere della Sera. Available at: https://rb.gy/p6e2k2 [In Italian]
Beuker, L., Pichault, F. (2022). How to Represent the Unrepresented? Renewing the Collective Action Repertoires of Autonomous Workers in Three Countries. In: R. Rego, H. A. Costa (eds.). The Representation of Workers in the Digital Era: Organizing a Heterogeneous Workforce (37-62). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Bryson, A. et al. (2012). Workplace Social Dialogue in Europe. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
Charter of Fundamental Rights of Digital Work in the Urban Context. (2018). Bologna: Comune di Bologna. [In Italian]
Collective method agreement on the organization of collective negotiations in the sector of delivery of goods by means of a two- or three-wheeled vehicle, whether motorized or not (2023). Autorite des relations sociales des plateformes demploi 20 avril 2023. [In French]
Decision on the amount of the minimum price of work for the period January-December 2023. (2022). Službeni glasnik RS, No. 105/2022. [In Serbian]
De Groen, W. P et al. (2017). Impact of digitalisation and the on-demand economy on labour markets and the consequences for employment and industrial relations. Final Study. Brussels: EESC.
Degryse, C. (2016). Digitalisation of the economy and its impact on labour markets. Brussels: ETUI.
Despic, A. (2019). The Digital Transformation and its impact on labour: how Industry 4.0 and digital labour platforms revolutionize healthcare (master’ thesis). Universita Ca’ Foscari, Venezia.
Digital Platform Delivery Wages Council Wage Regulation Order (2022). Gazzetta tal-Gvern ta’ Malta No. 20, 946. 21 ta’ Ottubru, 2022.
DigitalplaformObservatory (2021). Trade unions - Just Eat agreement. Digital platform Observatory. Available at: https://rb.gy/i0dtkh
Eurofound (2021a). Collective agreement between AssoDelivery and UGL (Initiative), Record number 2885. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://bit.ly/3yLqNe4
Eurofound (2021b). Collective agreement between Just Eat, trade union CGIL, CISL and UIL Trasporti and workers in Italy (Initiative), Record number 2452. Dublin: Platform Economy Database Available at: https://bit.ly/3X7Q1eq
Eurofound (2022a). Transposition of the Directive on predictable and transparent working conditions in the EU (Initiative), Record number 4267. Dublin: Platform Economy Database Available at: https://bit.ly/3ALZgcX
Eurofound (2022b). Independants.co (Initiative), Record number 2257. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://shorturl.at/0XhRR
Eurofound (2022c). Deliverance Milano (trade union) (Initiative), Record number 2275.
Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://bit.ly/4gieM0D
Eurofound (2023a). Amendments to the Labour Relations Act to Recognise the Platform Economy (Initiative), Record number 4257. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://shorturl.at/L8xPB
Eurofound (2023b). Amendment to Finnish Employment Contracts Act, new criteria for dis- tinction between self-employment and dependent employment (Initiative), Record number 4279. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://shorturl.at/4Asyy
Eurofound (2023c). Terms and conditions forplatform worker account deactivation established (Initiative), Record number 4419. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://rb.gy/59ki9y
Eurofound (2023d). Minimum hourly wage forplatform delivery drivers and riders established (Initiative), Record number 4418. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://rb.gy/q08u04
Eurofound (2023e). Collective agreement on transparency and account deactivation in the VTC platform sector signed (Initiative), Record number 4424. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://shorturl.at/TOWZO
Eurofound (2023f). Collective agreement for freedom to choose journeys signed (Initiative), Record number 4423. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https:// rb.gy/iwagk5
Eurofound (2024a). Supreme Court rules platform worker is self-employed (Court ruling), Record number 4434. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://bit. ly/473GZDS
Eurofound (2024b). Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU. Dublin: Platform Economy Database. Available at: https://shorturl.at/KTOlP
European Commission [EC] (2016). The role of social partners in the design and implemen-tation of policies and reforms. Brussels: Publication Office of EU
European Council [EC]. (2024). Platform workers: Council confirms agreement on new rules to improve their working conditions. Available at: https://rb.gy/jeqk2v
European Pillar of Social Rights (2017). The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. Available at: https://rb.gy/ike3cc
European Trade Union Institute [ETUI]. (2024). Provisional deal reached on the Platform Work Directive. Available at: https://rb.gy/p9ughd
Experimental protocol for legality against illegal leadership, illicit intermediation and labour exploitation in food delivery (2021). Roma: Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali, CGIL, CISL, UIL, AssoDelivery. [In Italian]
Fairwork (2023). Fairwork Serbia Ratings 2023: DeliveringDiscontent: Dynamic Pricing and Worker Unrest. Oxford: Fairwork.
Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Guinea et al. (2024). Regulating the Working Conditions of Platform Work: What Can We Learn from EUMember States? Brussels: ECIPE.
Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales [IRES] (2019). Don’t GIG Up! State of the Art Report”, Document de travail N° 02.2019. Available at: https://rb.gy/fiuemg
International Labour Organisation [ILO] (2013). National tripartite social dialogue. An ILO guide for improved governance. Geneva: International Labour Office.
Jašarević, S. (2015). Regulation of Labour Relations in the Context of New Global Circumstances. Zbornik Pravnog fakulteta u Novom Sadu, 3, 1053-1068. [In Serbian]
Kovačević, A. (2019). Towards The Decent Work - The Position of Crowdworking Employees.
Godišnjak FPN XIII (22), 85-99. Available at: https://bit.ly/4dGPZkO [In Serbian]
Kovačević, A. (2023a). The role of the trade unions in process of digitalization of labour in Serbia (doctoral dissertation). Beograd: Fakultet političkih nauka. Available at: https:// bit.ly/3YXDVay [In Serbian]
Kovačević, A. (2023b). Decent work at local digital platforms in Serbia. Politička revija, 77 (3), 167-192. Doi: 10.5937/pr77-44233. [In Serbian]
Kovačević, A. (2024). Local public policies concerning digitalization of labour: comparative practice experiences and potential implementation to the city of Belgrade. In: I. Stanojević, N. Purić (eds.). EU Enlargement, Geopolitics and the Russian-Ukraine War, 7-28. Beograd: Udruženje za političke nauke u Beogradu; Fakultet političkih nauka Univerziteta u Beogradu. Doi: 10.18485/fpn_saborp.2024.17.ch1 [In Serbian]
Labour Law (2022). Narodne novine, br. 151/22. [In Croatian]
Law no. 2016-1088 of 8 August 2016 relating to work, the modernization of social dialogue and the securing of professional careers (2016). JORF n° 0184 9/2016. [In French]
Lukić, M. (2021, November 1). The future of labour-now, Final conference of project DiDaNet. UGS Nezavinost. Available at: https://rb.gy/jdi3tz
Mandl, I. (2015). New Forms of Employment. Luxembourg: Publication Office of European Union.
MUST, Ministry of Foreign and Home Trade (2023). The populations purchasing power: Consumer basket. Beograd: Ministarstvo spoljne i unutrašnje trgovine. [In Serbian]
Online Labour Index [OLI] (2024). The Online Labour Index. Available at: https://bit. ly/3Ta4nd9
N1 Beograd (2023, April 5). Protest of couriers employed in Wolt in the center of Belgrade. n1info.rs. Available at: https://bit.ly/40tRYmP [In Serbian]
Proposal for a Directive on improving working conditions in platform work (2024). Council of European Union 7212/24 ADD 1. Brussels: Council of European Union.
Proposal for a law in provisions on work through digital platforms (2018). Camera del deputati no. 159. [In Italian]
Provisions for the protection and safety of digital workers (2019). Regione Lazio, Legge Regionale 12 aprile 2019. [In Italian]
Reljanović, M., Misailović J. (2021). Labor Rights Position of Digital Workers - Experiences of European Countries. Stranipravni život, 65 (3), 407-432. [In Serbian]
Schmidt, F. (2017). Digital Labour Markets in the Platform Economy. Mapping the Political Challenges of Crowd Work and Gig Work. Bonn: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Sindacato-Networkers.it (2024). About us. Sindacato-Networkers.it Available at: https:// rb.gy/lihwj0 [In Italian]
Sinicki, A. (2019). Thriving in the Gig Economy: Freelancing Online for Tech Professionals and Entrepreneurs. Apress.
Stojiljković, Z. (2014). Political Sociology of Contemporary Society. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike.
Todić, S. et al. (2024). The basis for the strategy of TUC Independence on trade union organization and protection of labour rights of platform workers. Beograd: UGS Nezavisnost. [In Serbian]
Thompson, E. P. (1967). Time, Work-Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism. Past and Present, 38, 56-97.
Turban, E. et al. (2018). Electronic Commerce 2018: A Managerial and Social Network Perspective. Springer.
Web, S., Webb, B. (2011). The History of Trade Unionism. Barnes & Noble Digital Library.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sociološki pregled
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.