Italian Parliament Paves Way for New Gig Economy Labor Laws

Key Highlights

• Law no. 91/2025 delegates legislative power to implement multiple EU directives
• Transposes EU Directive 2024/2831 on platform work into Italian law
• Creates rebuttable presumption of employment between platforms and workers
• Requires transparency on algorithmic monitoring, evaluation, and decision-making
• Mandates human oversight for major decisions affecting gig workers
• Establishes rules for worker health and safety in algorithmically managed systems

Policy Context and Implications

This delegation law marks a pivotal moment in Italian labor regulation, laying the groundwork for a national response to the growing challenges of platform-based employment. By mandating the presumption of employment, the law shifts the legal burden onto platforms—potentially redefining the status of thousands of gig workers in Italy and increasing their access to rights such as social security, paid leave, and collective bargaining.

For digital platforms operating in Italy, the forthcoming decrees will likely necessitate major operational changes, including compliance with new transparency obligations regarding algorithmic management and restrictions on data usage. Employers should anticipate stricter reporting standards, greater worker protections, and higher scrutiny around classifications of self-employed status. This reform also signals Italy's alignment with broader EU trends seeking to curb precarious labor practices in the digital economy.

Source