Recital 24

In some cases, persons performing platform work do not have a direct contractual relationship with the digital labour platform, but are in a relationship with an intermediary through which they perform platform work. This way of organising platform work often results in a vast array of different and complex multi-party relationships, including subcontracting chains, as well as in blurred responsibilities between the digital labour platform and the intermediaries. Persons performing platform work through intermediaries are exposed to the same risks related to the misclassification of their employment status and the use of automated monitoring systems or automated decision-making systems as persons performing platform work directly for the digital labour platform. Member States should therefore establish appropriate measures in order to ensure that, under this Directive, persons performing platform work working through intermediaries enjoy the same level of protection as persons performing platform work who have a direct contractual relationship with the digital labour platform. Member States should establish appropriate mechanisms, including, where appropriate, through joint and several liability systems.