Full Paper [PDF].pdf

Participating organizations include the Austrian Chamber of Labour, Austrian Trade Union Federation, Danish Union of Commercial and Clerical Workers, German Metalworkers' Union, and others. Technical advisors come from various institutions such as St. Louis University School of Law, University of Kassel, and the International Labour Office. The Frankfurt Paper on Platform-Based Work proposes guidelines for platform operators, clients, policymakers, workers, and worker organizations to ensure fair platform-based work. Key points include compliance with national law and international principles, clarification of employment status, and the need for online labor platforms to comply with applicable laws, including existing tests of employment status, wage laws, and taxation requirements. Workers on platforms are often classified as independent contractors, excluding them from legal and social protections established for employees. The paper discusses the role of unions and worker organizations in realizing the promise of platform-based work, including providing labor market access, freedom, and flexibility while retaining elements of traditional employment relationships.