| Abstract [eng] |
This chapter examines the legal and socio-economic challenges of regulating digital platform work in Eastern and Southeastern European countries. It focuses on Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania, offering comparative insights into national regulatory approaches, informal labour dynamics, and employment status misclassification. While digital platforms provide flexibility and new income opportunities, they also perpetuate undeclared work, legal ambiguity, and gaps in social protection. The analysis reveals that most countries in the region lack specific legal frameworks for platform workers, resulting in their widespread classification as self-employed and exclusion from labour rights and benefits. The chapter evaluates attempts at national and international reform, including the European Commission’s directive negotiations and Ukraine’s Diia City regime, highlighting divergent strategies and implementation barriers. Case studies reveal the prevalence of intermediary employment models, inconsistent contract types, and algorithmic control over work processes. The chapter emphasises the growing need for national legislative solutions that balance labour flexibility with adequate protection and legal clarity. It concludes that addressing informal work and legal misclassification is key to ensuring fair conditions in the platform economy, requiring political will, institutional capacity, and stronger worker representation. |
