'Connecting the dots' between the Platform Work Directive and the existing EU social acquis

This paper examines the relationship between the EU Platform Work Directive (2024/2831) and three core EU labour directives: The Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive (2019/1152) and the Fixed-Term Work Directive (1999/70/EC).

While the Platform Work Directive is acknowledged as a step in the right direction, it fails to meaningfully integrate key protections already present in the EU social acquis. This leaves the available protections for platform workers scattered, incomplete, ultimately weakening their effectiveness in practice.

Despite these shortcomings, the paper ends on a note of cautious optimism. It highlights that Member States have an opportunity to address these gaps by going beyond minimum compliance in national implementation and that further progress may emerge from the forthcoming ILO convention on decent work in the platform economy.