SY: Platform work must also be possible as self-employment

A draft Platform Work Act, prepared by a tripartite working group at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, entered the consultation round on 8 Jul. 2026. The Act would implement the EU’s Platform Work Directive. “The directive doesn’t automatically turn platform work into employment. For Suomen Yrittäjät, it’s important that platform work remains possible as self-employment,” says Albert Mäkelä, a senior specialist at Suomen Yrittäjät, the Finnish SME association.

Suomen Yrittäjät and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) submitted a dissenting opinion on the report, as the draft act deviates in several places from the principle of minimum regulation. Minimum regulation means that the act would contain only the obligations strictly necessary to implement the directive.

“We must not restrict the development of new business models based on digitalization and AI beyond what the directive requires. All the unnecessary extras need to go,” Mäkelä says.

Platform work refers to work distributed through a digital, automated platform. Typical forms of platform work include various delivery and food courier services. However, a Platform Work Act would also apply to other types of work organized through digital automated systems.

“Platform work isn’t just about food couriers. Regulation should not be shaped too heavily around courier services – it needs to look ahead and take account of new ways of working,” Mäkelä says.

Broad employment presumption could lead to errors

The directive does not change the definition of employment, but it does require the introduction of an employment presumption. This will mean platform work is presumed by default to constitute employment if the work involves direction and supervision. Applying the presumption means the platform would have to demonstrate that the person is not an employee. The presumption would also apply in public authorities’ work.

The dissenting opinion from Suomen Yrittäjät and EK focused mainly on how the employment presumption would be applied. The dissenting opinion says that the proposal should be amended to ensure that the presumption is not made on the basis of any single factor indicating direction and supervision.

“Some degree of direction and supervision also occurs when one business orders work from another business. The directive’s purpose, however, isn’t to bring all platform work within the scope of employment. Platform work must continue to be possible as self-employment, and the employment presumption should not be applied too broadly,” Mäkelä continues.

Platform Work Act would complement existing labour law

The Platform Work Act would supplement other labour legislation and apply only when platform work is involved. In addition to the employment presumption, people doing platform work would have specific rights to information relating to the platform’s operations and decisions – rights that differ from those under existing labour law.

“Regulation should not be differentiated based on whether work is performed through a platform or not. Although platform work differs from traditional ways of working, employment law questions relating to platforms can be resolved using existing regulatory tools,” Mäkelä says.

Further information: Albert Mäkelä, senior specialist, +358 40 776 0560, albert.makela@yrittajat.fi, Suomen Yrittäjät