Europe’s bid to boost gig workers’ rights fails again

Europe's attempt to give workers at Uber, Deliveroo and other online platforms more social and labor rights failed a second time after Greece and three other countries abstained from voting on the watered-down political deal.

Belgium, the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, is unlikely to muster enough support for yet another attempt, especially as the European Parliament which has to endorse a final deal, gradually winds down ahead of elections in June.

Still, it was doubtful whether the weaker provisional agreement would have benefited gig workers as it stripped out key criteria determining whether a worker was an employee, in effect maintaining the status quo which is currently based on national laws and court rulings.

EU lawmakers and Belgium had clinched the deal last week, the second attempt after a December agreement failed to get the support...