Perspectivas Contemporâneas - Contemporary Perspectives

Dossier: On-Demand Work and Institutional Transformations: The Gig Economy in the European Union

Thematic Area:
Work, Public Policies, and Social Transformations in the European Union

1. Justification and Relevance

The growing expansion of the gig economy in the European Union has brought about significant transformations in forms of labor market participation, social protection systems, and regulatory frameworks. Digital platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo, Glovo, and other on-demand service networks have reshaped not only the logic of work organization but also the forms of subordination, remuneration, and control.

These changes pose complex challenges to the legal and institutional systems of European countries, particularly in a context of increasing heterogeneity in the application of norms, worker protection, and recognition of formal employment relationships. At the same time, the EU is moving forward with supranational regulations, such as the recent Directive on Platform Work, which proposes new criteria for characterizing employment relationships and holding platforms accountable.

In this context, the proposed special issue aims to gather academic contributions that critically analyze institutional responses, social conflicts, and legal and policy innovations emerging at the intersection of digital labor, regulation, and social justice in the European space.

1. Objectives of the Dossier

• Explore the impacts of the gig economy on labor relations and social protection systems in the European Union.
• Analyze national and EU-level regulatory responses to new models of platform-mediated work.
• Investigate forms of resistance, collective organization, and negotiation within digital labor sectors.
• Promote a critical and interdisciplinary perspective on the social, legal, and political effects of labor digitalization in Europe.
• Encourage comparative approaches among Member States, identifying convergences, asymmetries, and innovations.
• Address perspectives from South American countries in comparison to the European Union.

1. Expected Topics (Suggested Subthemes)

• Implementation and repercussions of the European Directive on Platform Work
• National regulation and case law on employment relationships in digital platforms
• Union action, collective mobilization, and new forms of organization among gig workers
• Structural inequalities, migration, and precarization in the platform economy
• Intersectionality and differentiated impacts of the gig economy by gender, race, and class
• Accountability strategies and algorithmic transparency in digital platforms
• Comparative models of public policies on digital labor in the EU
• Methodological and ethical challenges in research on labor platforms

1. Target Audience

Researchers in the fields of Sociology, Political Science, Law, Economics, Public Administration, European Studies, and related areas, with a focus on labor regulation, public policy, and digital transformation. The special issue may also be of interest to policymakers, trade unions, NGOs, and institutions connected to the world of work.

1. Organizing Team (Guest Editors)
   Dr. Fabricio Pelloso Piurcosky, Centro Universitário Integrado (Coordinator)
   Prof. Dr. Mario de Martino, Centro Universitário Integrado
   Prof. Dr. Rui Alexandre Castanho, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre
2. Proposed Schedule

• Call for papers announcement: May 2026
• Deadline for article submission: June 15, 2026
• Peer review and revision period: July to November 2026
• Final organization and layout preparation: November  2026
• Special issue publication: December 2026