Labor relations with Internet aggregator: tomorrow’s reality?

Abstract

The article analyzes the possibility of extending labor legislation to work relations using Internet platforms (for example, taxi ordering services). Digital technologies make significant changes to the labor management system, modify the employer power and its manifestation in labor relations. Internet platforms eliminate intermediary links and bring the manufacturer of goods, works, services with the end consumer. This is due to the individualization of labor, the results of which are offered to the end user. The ideal model of relations on the basis of the Internet platform between the manufacturer of goods, works, services and the end consumer is exclusively private in nature. At first glance, this circumstance excludes employer power as a
tool for organizing and managing labor. However, the practice of taxi services calls into question this statement. Serious problems of a factual and legal nature also arise that require state regulation. Drivers are weak subjects in relations of responsibility and in relations with the aggregator company. These reasons necessitate a legal settlement in order to establish a minimum level of rights and guarantees for participants in these relations. Assessing the possibility of extending labor legislation to relations on the use of labor on Internet platforms, the authors come to ambiguous conclusions. The analysis of the practice of labor law regulation shows the absence of objective obstacles for the extension of labor legislation to these relations. However, the creation of an effective and efficient mechanism for regulating these relations will require serious theoretical understanding and normative elaboration in view of the explicit specificity of these relations.

Keywords:

Internet platform, aggregator, labor law, labor relations, employer power, labor management