Like any technological revolution, the digital transition has profound social implications for the politics and the future of work. In particular, digital technology acts as a wealth and power multiplier for the owners of capital and the highly skilled. Creating a ‘winner takes all economy’. This has weakened labour versus capital, which explains why productivity increases have failed to increase workers’ wages or reduce their working hours. The unbundling and outsourcing of jobs and their increasing precariousness started in the 80s. However, these trends have been facilitated and accelerated by digital technology.

Platform work in the gig economy has created a new precariat with low wages, sometimes below the minimum wage, and a lack of social security. Riders and other service providers often face unacceptable health and safety risks that are being created, partly through algorithmic management systems that push to and over the limit. These practices that started within the platform economy are now moving from the apps to the more traditional sectors and are currently being deployed on work floor of warehouses and in the telecommunications sector.

To contribute to the discussion on how to shape the future of work humanely and socially just, FEPS investigates the trends and developments in the labour market that naturally flow from the digital transition.

Find all publications on Future of Work
Publications
04/10/2023

A progressive politics of work for the age of unpeace

What Labour can learn from the European centre-left
28/03/2023

Back to the Dark Ages?

Q-commerce, rapid retail and the changing landscape of retail work
28/03/2023

Getting the goods

Trade unions and strategy in the quick-commerce sector
11/01/2023

Promoting a just digital transition for workers

Recovery Watch series
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Events
Upcoming
08/04/2024
Online

The rise of algorithmic management, from platform economy to traditional sectors

Webinar on Platform Work and Algorithms at the Workplace
Past
23/01/2024
Helsinki, Finland

Algorithms in the Workplace

Breakfast roundtable
18/01/2024
Copenhagen, Denmark (Expert meeting)

Platform work and employment terms

Expert roundtable
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Progressive Post
04/05/2023

Future of work: between global, digital, local and green

09/11/2021

The European Digital Agenda: can there be trust when workers are ignored?

19/06/2021

New horizons for a Political Europe

15/04/2021

‘Old’ rules and protections for the ‘new’ world of work

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Find all news on Future of Work
News
13/03/2023

Digital programme: Algorithms at the workplace

FEPS, together with Nordic partners, launched a Digital Programme on algorithmic management and workers' rights
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In the media

Цената на прехода – зелен, дигитален и демографски

by BNT 13/03/2024
'The cost of transition - green, digital and demographic' BNT Interview with László Andor about the three major transformations the world is facing.

Rapid grocery worker conditions are worsening, states report

by The Grocer 30/05/2023
The findings of our FEPS study on the quick-commerce sector and the conditions of rider workers were picked up by the UK-website 'The Grocer’.

Quick commerce – not turning a fast buck

by Social Europe 15/05/2023
Article on Social Europe by the authors of 'Back to the Dark Ages?' FEPS Policy Study about the quick-commerce workers' rights.

Work insecurity: the high cost of ultra-fast grocery deliveries

by euobserver 30/03/2023
EUobserver on the ultra-fast grocery deliveries and our policy study 'Back to the Dark Ages? Quick Commerce and the changing landscape of retail work', published in collaboration with Uni Europa.

Brave New World of Work? – Euractiv

by Euractiv 25/11/2021
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Audiovisual

‘Algorithms in the Workplace’ Flickr album

‘Platform work and employment terms’ Flickr album

Shaping Europe’s digital model Flickr album

‘Transforming capitalism in the Age of AI’ Flickr album

#134 FEPS Talks ‘Green Data: on the interplay of the twin transitions of digitalisation and climate’

#132 FEPS Talks ‘Dark stores: Are the riders squeezed for super-fast grocery delivery?’

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Network and Team

Gerard Rinse OOSTERWIJK

Policy Analyst on Digital

Luis SÁEZ JIMÉNEZ

Project Officer

Euléane OMEZ

Project Management Coordinator