Online Platform Work and Work Environment Law: A Scandinavian Legal Perspective

Martine Stagelund Hvidt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This article addresses a specific work environment law aspect of online platform work, namely the question of whether the Scandinavian work environmental laws in their current form are suitable for protecting platformworkers from health and safety risks. In considering this question, the laws of the three Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Sweden and Norway - are singled out for comparison. The article argues that the uncertain legal status of online platformworkers has a potentially detrimental impact on their work environment rights. At the moment, there is no legal instrument in the Scandinavian countries directed solely at online platform work and the work environment. However, case law arising from specific scenarios demonstrates a definite need for work environment protection for online platform workers. For these workers, although their work may in some cases involve personal risk, they lack the express legal protections available to the self-employed. In such cases, it is unclear whether the Scandinavian laws on work environment are sufficiently equipped to handle online platform work if limited only to existing or default legislation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalOslo Law Review
Volume8
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)111-125
Number of pages15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Author(s).

Keywords

  • health and safety at work
  • legal status for gig workers
  • online platform
  • work environment

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