This Country Report explores how platform workers’ data can be recovered and used to support collective bargaining and monitor the implementation of agreements in the platform economy in Belgium.
Focusing on the ride-hailing and food delivery sectors, the report investigates the legal, institutional, and practical dimensions of platform work in Belgium. It draws on a combination of desk research, stakeholder consultation, focus groups, and data recovery workshops involving workers.
The study reveals a fragmented and opaque platform ecosystem, where workers often operate in precarious conditions with limited access to social protections. Despite early regulatory efforts, the legal framework remains complex and inconsistent, contributing to confusion among workers and enforcement bodies alike. The report highlights the challenges workers face in accessing their personal data under the GDPR, including procedural barriers, fear of retaliation, and the technical complexity of interpreting the data received.
Through detailed analysis of data obtained from platforms, this report examines the scope and nature of data collected, the role of algorithmic management, and implications for workers’ autonomy, earnings, and job security. It assesses the role of unions, grassroots organisations, and public authorities in advocating for platform workers’ rights, and identifies the potential and limitations of current collective bargaining efforts. It underscores the need for stronger regulatory enforcement, greater algorithmic transparency, and more robust institutional support to empower platform workers.
