Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to put a stop to low wages for food delivery services and other booming digital platforms. “I will not allow digitization to be confused with exploitation in the platform economy,” said Heil of the dpa in Berlin.

According to the key points of the Ministry of Labor, which are available to the dpa, self-employed platform workers should also enjoy social protection and appropriate working conditions in future.

In addition to food suppliers, this affects, for example, transport services and household services, but also platforms for text work, programming and creative activities. According to an EU survey, 2.7 million people in Germany either receive at least half of their income from platform work or work in this way for at least ten hours a week, as the ministry writes. Other studies would come to lower numbers.

Works councils undesirable “Platforms strive for market dominance,” said Heil. “We are now also experiencing this in the pandemic.” In the case of food delivery services, for example, there is now mainly one relevant provider. The complaints of restaurateurs about their dependence on the Lieferando ordering platform are well known. According to an ARD report, employees complain that the establishment of works councils is being made more difficult.

Heil said that market dominance leads to “prices and conditions being unilaterally dictated to suppliers and restaurants” . A framework for fair competition is necessary. “I want to further develop the culture of the social market economy in the platform economy.”

The Ministry of Labor proposes the following key points, among others:

“Social protection” – Solo self-employed platform workers should be included in the statutory pension insurance. The platform operator should pay for it. Contributions from the platforms for health insurance should also be checked. In the case of food suppliers or bicycle couriers, for example, it should also be checked whether operators have to pay accident insurance contributions.

“Burden of proof for self-employment”: If a platform worker provides evidence of the existence of an employment relationship, the operator must, in the case of a Differences of opinion prove the opposite.

“Organization of platform workers”: The ministry wants to enable collective organization for self-employed platform workers. They should be able to negotiate working conditions on an equal footing.

In addition, minimum notice periods should be stipulated depending on the length of the activity. Continued payment of wages in the event of illness and rules on maternity protection and vacation are also sought. Self-employed people should no longer have to accept contractual conditions that are detrimental to them.

Worst protection, lowest wages “Make digital platforms life easier, “said Heil. “New job opportunities arise.” But he wants to support employees who work on and for platforms – regardless of whether they are employed or self-employed. “Platform employees must be able to represent their interests effectively and, for example, to make collective agreements.” He wants a fair balance between producers, consumers and employees.

According to Heil, the topic is also on the agenda at the government’s digital summit on Monday and Tuesday. “There are platforms in which I by no means have the impression that precarious work predominates,” said Heil. For example with the craft platforms. But fair conditions are generally necessary. “Platforms are not allowed to compete with each other with the lowest wages and the worst protection.”

Heil recalled that Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) was also planning an amendment to competition law. “There is only a market economy if there is competition. Where monopolies arise, there is no market economy,” said Heil. “It is not only important that the laws are amended, but that the cartel authorities also take a look.”

(kbe)