Dublin: Delivery workers who bring food to customers’ doorsteps in all weather conditions are set to receive stronger employment protections under a new European Union law. The EU Platform Work Directive must be transposed into national legislation by all member states, including Ireland, by 2 December 2026.
The new legislation will not make delivery workers government employees. Instead, it is designed to ensure that workers employed through digital platforms such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats can be recognised as employees of the companies that control their work, where appropriate.
Under the directive, if a platform determines a worker’s hours, pay, order allocation, performance monitoring or other key aspects of their work, the worker may be legally presumed to be an employee rather than an independent contractor. In such cases, the burden of proving genuine self-employment will rest with the platform company. Authorities will examine the actual working relationship rather than relying solely on the terms written in a contract.
Workers recognised as employees would become eligible for important employment rights, including the national minimum wage, paid annual leave, statutory sick pay, employer PRSI contributions and access to occupational pension schemes where applicable.
The directive also introduces safeguards against fully automated decision-making. Major decisions affecting workers—such as account suspensions, deactivations or dismissal—cannot be made solely by computer algorithms. Human oversight and a clear explanation for such decisions will be required.
The reforms are expected to benefit thousands of migrant workers in Ireland, including many Indians, who are employed in the platform delivery sector. Regular payslips, tax records, PRSI contributions and documented employment history could also support future applications for social welfare benefits, pensions, mortgages, bank loans and certain immigration processes.
While the enhanced protections may increase operating costs for delivery platforms and restaurants—potentially leading to higher delivery charges or food prices—the directive is widely viewed as a significant step towards improving job security and employment rights for workers who have traditionally operated with limited protections.
Irish Samachar English