Introducing Fairwork Croatia

Introducing Fairwork Croatia!

Fairwork Croatia is dedicated to implementing the Fairwork principles to evaluate the working conditions of platform workers in the country. Led by principal investigator Teo Matković, the research team includes Katarina Jaklin, Jelena Ostojić, and Jaka Primorac, who will oversee data collection and analysis.

Why Implement a Fairwork Pilot in Croatia?

Platform work has been part of Croatia’s economy since 2015, starting with Uber’s introduction of its ride-hailing services, soon followed by Bolt. The first years were marked by intense conflicts with traditional taxi drivers, occasionally escalating into physical altercations. The legality of Uber’s operations was in question for the first two years until the introduction of a new law for road transport in 2018. This legislation liberalized the taxi market, which led to accusations that it favoured Uber’s business model due to effective lobbying efforts. Following a period of protests and strikes by taxi drivers, the tensions gradually eased, establishing a new regulatory framework for ride-hailing services in Croatia.

In 2019, the platform work sector expanded with the arrival of food delivery services like Wolt, Glovo, and Pauza.hr, followed by Bolt Food in 2020. Specific to Croatia’s gig economy is the role of “aggregators”—third-party intermediaries that act between platforms and workers. These aggregators often employ workers under minimal labour rights, hiring them for the minimum required hours, sometimes without contracts, deducting fees from their earnings, and frequently reducing their pay to cover gross-net wage discrepancies, as reported in the media.

A critical development in the regulation of platform work occurred in January 2024 with a new labour law targeting both platforms and aggregators. Despite organized protests from delivery workers, trade unions, and opposition from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) against the formal recognition of these intermediaries, the law was enacted. The impact of this legislation on the working conditions of platform workers in Croatia remains under-researched, especially in light of recent migration policy changes that have increased the influx of third-country nationals into the platform sector. There has not been any extensive research data on cloudwork in Croatia, and more awareness raising on the Fairwork principles in this type of platform work is also needed.

Implementing the Fairwork pilot in Croatia will provide valuable insights into the specific challenges and opportunities within the national gig economy. This project will highlight the unique dynamics, particularly the role of aggregators, and provide detailed recommendations for improving working conditions within such a setup. These insights could serve as a model for other countries facing similar issues with platform work regularization.

Evaluating and ranking gig economy platforms through the Fairwork pilot in Croatia will highlight best practices and areas requiring reform. This transparency can encourage platforms to adopt fairer labour practices, leading to better pay, job security, and worker rights. Insights from the research could also guide policymakers in developing more effective labour regulations that address current legal gaps.

Beyond assessing fairness in platform work, the Fairwork Croatia team will closely follow these developments, advocating for policies that enhance protections and fairness for platform workers across the country.