Legal status of platform workers: problems of definition and social significance

Abstract

This article identifies the legal status of platform workers in the context of the rapid development of digitalization in the labor market.

The study's methodological basis is a combination of formal legal and comparative legal analysis, applying a doctrinal approach to understanding the transformation of labor relations in the digital environment.

This article examines the nature of the legal relationship between a digital platform and a contractor. Unlike traditional employment, platform employment is characterized by the fact that online services and platforms act not as employers but as intermediaries, enabling one party to submit a request for a task and the other to perform it in accordance with their competencies.

This article analyzes the transformational processes of labor relations arising from the use of digital platforms as intermediaries between clients and contractors. It identifies the key risks associated with the uncertainty of the legal status of platform workers, which complicates their legal qualifications and creates the preconditions for limiting labor and social guarantees. It is substantiated that the lack of clear criteria for distinguishing between labor and civil law relations requires doctrinal understanding and regulatory improvement. The urgency of addressing these issues to ensure decent working conditions and social stability is emphasized.

It is established that legal uncertainty leads to gaps in the provision of basic labor and social guarantees. Individuals whose activities are mediated by digital platforms are exposed to complex legal, social, and economic risks, including job instability and limited access to the social security system.

Areas for adapting national legislation to the modern requirements of the digital economy are outlined. The introduction of a minimum mandatory social security package, including paid leave, accident insurance, and other social guarantees, is proposed. The implementation of these measures will contribute to the development of a balanced and stable legal model for regulating platform employment in Ukraine.