5th Trade Union Platfor(u)m

On 24–25 September 2026, more than 130 trade unionists, platform workers, policymakers and representatives from civil society and academia gathered in Gdańsk, Poland, for the fifth edition of the Platforum, organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in cooperation with FES Future of Work. Against the backdrop of the upcoming deadline for transposing the EU Platform Work Directive, the conference focused on how to turn European legislation into tangible improvements for platform workers across Europe.

Hosted at the historic Sala BHP, with the support of the Polish trade union confederations Solidarność and OPZZ, this year's Platforum took place at a crucial moment for the future of platform work in Europe. As Member States prepared to implement the EU Platform Work Directive, discussions centred on effective enforcement, stronger workers' rights and the role of trade unions in shaping fair and sustainable working conditions in the platform economy.

Christina Kampmann Opens the Conference on Behalf of FES

Christina Kampmann, Member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament and member of the Executive Board of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), officially opened the conference on behalf of FES. She joined representatives of the organising partners, including Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Piotr Ostrowski, President of OPZZ, Bartłomiej Mickiewicz of Solidarność and Wojciech Kwidziński of the Solidarność Promotion Foundation.

Kampmann's second participation, she already opened the 4th edition of the Platforum last year in Cyprus, underscored the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's commitment to promoting decent work, social dialogue and workers' rights in an increasingly digitalised economy. The opening provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of European cooperation at a time when the implementation of the Platform Work Directive was moving to the centre of political attention.

The choice of Gdańsk as the conference venue carried particular significance. As the birthplace of the Solidarność movement, the city served as a powerful reminder of the importance of collective action and trade union solidarity in securing workers' rights. This historical setting provided a fitting backdrop for discussions on how workers and their organisations can actively shape technological change.

Turning the Platform Work Directive into Reality

Following the opening, Polish technology journalist, author and Techstorie podcast co-host Sylwia Czubkowska delivered the keynote speech. Drawing on her work on the growing influence of technology companies and digital platforms, she set the scene for discussions on the challenges facing workers in the platform economy.

A central focus of the conference was the implementation of the EU Platform Work Directive. A high-level panel brought together European and national policymakers, public authorities and trade union representatives, including Leïla Chaibi, Member of the European Parliament, Jasmin Gegenwart from the European Commission, and Tea Jarc of the ETUC.

Discussions addressed how the Directive could translate into meaningful improvements for platform workers, particularly couriers and drivers whose working conditions continue to be affected by insufficient regulation and uncertainty over employment status. Participants explored the challenges of ensuring effective enforcement, tackling employment misclassification and establishing greater transparency in algorithmic management.

The exchanges highlighted that adopting European legislation was only the first step. Its impact would depend on ambitious national implementation, effective labour inspections and the involvement of workers and trade unions in shaping and enforcing the new rules.

From Political Debate to Practical Strategies

Beyond the high-level discussions, the Platforum provided opportunities for practical exchanges between platform workers, trade unionists, researchers and civil society organisations from across Europe.

The second day featured thematic workshops led by the participants and explored challenges related to platform work, workers' rights and collective organising.

A workshop jointly organised by FES Warsaw and the Polish riders' collective Zentrale focused specifically on strategies for organising platform workers. Drawing on experiences from different countries, participants discussed lessons learned from previous organising efforts and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between workers and trade unions.

The discussions emphasised the importance of cross-border coordination in a sector characterised by transnational business models. Strengthening networks, sharing practical experiences and developing joint strategies were identified as important elements in improving workers' collective representation.

Throughout the two days, the conference also addressed broader developments shaping the future of work, including algorithmic management, artificial intelligence, collective bargaining and the need for stronger cooperation across national borders.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Workers' Voices Across Europe

The fifth Platforum demonstrated the importance of bringing together platform workers, trade unions, policymakers and researchers to exchange perspectives and develop common approaches to the challenges of the digital economy.

With the implementation of the EU Platform Work Directive approaching, the discussions in Gdańsk highlighted the need to move from political commitments to practical action. Ensuring that new European rules lead to real improvements in working conditions will require continued cooperation, effective enforcement and strong worker representation.

For FES Future of Work, the conference reaffirmed the importance of supporting trade union cooperation and creating spaces for dialogue on a fair and socially sustainable digital transformation.

The exchanges will continue at the next Platforum, scheduled to take place in the Netherlands in 2027.

Further information

Programme and Presentations: 5th Platforum on ETUC's website

FES Future of Work's Platform Work Project