Possible ways to protect the interests of platform workers

Ignjatović, Miroljub (author)

The article examines the transformation of power relations in the platform economy and ways to protect the interests of platform workers under algorithmic control. With critical analysis of the concepts of precarisation and control (Kalleberg et al., Edwards, Foucault), digital labour platforms are shown to create new forms of dependency and insecurity, yet also new opportunities for resistance. Four levels of interest protection are identified: individual and collective resistance tactics, the establishment of platform cooperatives, organised collective representation, and legislative measures by states and the EU. In the conclusion, emphasis is given to the need for collective, technological and legal spheres to act in unison to ensure decent work in the digital age.

• Language: English
• Keywords: digital labour platforms, platform work, precarisation, control, algorithms, collective bargaining, labor standards, precarious work, workers' rights
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 09.07.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 277-294
• Numbering: Letn. 63, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184729
• UDC: 331.104.2:004.738.5:342.7
• ISSN on article: 0040-3598
• DOI: 10.51936/tip.63.2.277
• COBISS.SI-ID: 284612099
• Publication date in RUL: 14.07.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Teorija in praksa : revija za družbena vprašanja
• Shortened title: Teor. praksa
• Publisher: Fakulteta za družbene vede
• ISSN: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763652

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Možni načini zaščite interesov platformnih delavce

Abstract

Članek preučuje preobrazbo odnosov moči v platformni ekonomiji in načine zaščite interesov platformnih delavcev v pogojih algoritmičnega nadzora. S pomočjo kritične analize konceptov prekarizacije in nadzora (Kalleberg et al., Edwards, Foucault) je prikazano, da digitalne platforme dela ustvarjajo nove oblike odvisnosti in negotovosti, pa tudi nove priložnosti za odpor. Opredeljene so štiri ravni zaščite interesov platformnih delavcev: individualne in kolektivne taktike upora, vzpostavljanje platformnih kooperativ, organizirano kolektivno zastopanje ter zakonodajni ukrepi držav in EU. V zaključku je poudarjena potreba po usklajenem delovanju kolektivne, tehnološke in pravne sfere za zagotavljanje dostojnega dela v digitalni dobi.

• Keywords: digitalne platforme dela, platformno delo, prekarizacija, nadzor, algoritmi, kolektivna pogajanja, delovnopravni standardi, prekarno delo, pravice delavcev