Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
212. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to report on his Departments consultation on transposing the platform work directive; when his Department will complete the drafting process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27759/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Improving Working Conditions in Platform Work Directive entered into force on 1 December 2024. EU Member States have until 2 December 2026 to transpose the Directive into national law.
The Directive is significantly technically complex and wide-ranging, legislating for numerous areas. It seeks to ensure that people working though digital labour platforms have the correct legal employment status that corresponds to their actual working arrangements, enabling them to benefit from the employment rights they are entitled to.
The Directive also aims to regulate the use of algorithms by digital labour platforms. It will make the use of algorithms in human resources management in platform work more transparent, ensuring that automated systems are monitored by qualified staff, and that workers have the right to contest automated decisions. The Directive also imposes substantial limitations on the processing of personal data by these systems.
Effective transposition requires significant coordination between the Department and other relevant Departments and agencies to ensure that all elements of the Directive are fully and accurately addressed.
As such, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has completed consultations with Government Departments, and the public consultation process has also concluded. This consultation was open for a four-week period, and received submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including digital labour platform operators, trade unions, employer bodies, and civil society organisations. Department officials are maintaining ongoing dialogue with relevant stakeholders throughout 2026.
A results of the public consultation are currently being considered. The Department proposes to publish the submissions received from stakeholders on its website in due course.
In the context of transposition, Ireland was represented by officials of the Department at the European Commission’s Expert Working Group on the transposition of the Directive. The Group concluded its work and published its final report on 12 January 2026, which is being used as a key source of guidance for Member States. Engagement with the European Commission will continue throughout 2026.
Department officials are currently obtaining legal advice in respect of drafting of the requisite legislation to faithfully transpose the Directive. Drafting will commence once the necessary legal advice has been received. Work on the transposition of the Platform Work Directive remains ongoing, and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is committed to progressing it without delay and is on track to complete the transposition by the transposition deadline.
