Draft act on platform work open for consultation
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is inviting views on a draft act that would transpose into national law the EU Directive on improving working conditions in platform work. The draft act was prepared by a tripartite working group, which did not reach a unanimous position.
Platform work refers to work organised through digital labour platforms. These platforms provide a range of services to customers, such as food and goods delivery or other services, via websites or mobile applications.
Improving employment terms, working conditions and the protection of personal data in platform work
The new act would introduce a legal presumption of an employment relationship. Its purpose is to make it easier to determine the correct employment status of people working through digital labour platforms, in other words, whether they are employees or self‑employed. The legal presumption would shift the burden of proof from the platform worker to the platform company regarding the nature of the employment relationship.
The act would introduce measures to increase transparency in algorithmic management, including the use of automated decision‑making and monitoring systems. It would also strengthen the protection of platform workers’ personal data. In addition, the impact of automated systems would need to be taken into account when safeguarding workers’ health and safety.
To ensure effective enforcement of platform workers’ rights, the draft act includes provisions on fines and a prohibition of reprisals. The occupational safety and health authorities would have the power to impose fines on platform companies and intermediaries for breaches of the rules.
The working group also proposes national rules requiring platform companies to verify the identity of people performing platform work and, through reasonable measures, to ensure that the contractual terms applicable to that person are appropriate.. This provision is intended to prevent the use of inappropriate contractual terms, combat undeclared work and curb the shadow economy.
“There must be no place whatsoever for exploitation in the Finnish labour market. The terms applicable to work must be fair for people performing platform work. In the future, platform companies must take reasonable measures to ensure that people working through their platforms are not subject to contractual terms that are contrary to good practice or otherwise unreasonable,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen.
Act would enter into force in December 2026
The Directive on improving working conditions in platform work was adopted in the EU in October 2024. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment set up a tripartite working group to prepare the legislative amendments required to implement the directive in Finland. In addition to ministry representatives, the group included representatives from the Confederation of Finnish Industries, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), the Confederation of Union for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Justice. An expert member from the occupational safety and health authority also took part. The working group did not reach a unanimous conclusion.
The new act on platform work is intended to enter into force on 2 December 2026, when the directive must be implemented across the EU. The act would apply to platform work carried out in Finland, regardless of where the digital labour platform is established.
Inquiries:
Nico Steiner, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 049 001
Katja Honkonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 171
Henna Rantanen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 084