EU countries did not back political deal on gig workers' rights, EU presidency says

A watered-down political deal giving workers at Uber, Deliveroo and other online companies more social and labour rights failed to get sufficient support from EU governments, Belgium's presidency of the European Union said on Friday. "Unfortunately the necessary QMV (qualified majority voting) wasn't found," it said, adding that it will now consider the next steps.

A watered-down political deal giving workers at Uber, Deliveroo and other online companies more social and labour rights failed to get sufficient support from EU governments, Belgium's presidency of the European Union said on Friday. EU lawmakers and Belgium, the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, had clinched the deal last week, the second attempt after a December agreement failed to get the support of France and several other EU governments.

"The final compromise deal on the Platform Work Directive was put forward for endorsement by ambassadors at Coreper," Belgium's EU representation said on X social media. Coreper refers to the ambassadors' meeting. "Unfortunately the necessary QMV (qualified majority voting) wasn't found," it said, adding that it will now consider the next steps.