Fairwork Croatia

• Acronym: Fairwork Croatia
• Coordinator: Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford  and WZB Berlin Social Science
• Partner: Institute for Social Research in Zagreb
• Other partners: https://fair.work/en/fw/about/collaborators/
• Financed by: Institute for Social Research in Zagreb
• Project duration: February 10 2025 – February 10 2026

The Fairwork Croatia Project is an action research initiative aimed at evaluating digital labour platforms based on fairness criteria developed within the project, which is coordinated by the Oxford Internet Institute and WZB Berlin Social Science Center. By collaborating with a network of researchers and experts from 38 countries across five continents, Fairwork's goal is to ensure fairer working conditions in the digital economy.

In Croatia, the research will focus on location-based platforms, meaning those whose services take place at specific locations, such as ride-hailing (taxi) and food delivery platforms. Through detailed analysis, interviews with workers and management, the project assesses how these platforms operate in relation to five key principles of fairness:

1. Fair Pay – Workers must receive a living wage that covers basic living expenses.
2. Fair Conditions – Platforms are responsible for ensuring worker safety and health, as well as minimizing work-related risks.
3. Fair Contracts – Contracts should be transparent, fair, and reasonable, without hidden or unfair conditions that put workers at a disadvantage.
4. Fair Management – Platforms should promote fair treatment of workers, including clearly defined grievance mechanisms and protection from discrimination.
5. Fair Representation – Workers must have the right to organize and engage in collective representation to effectively advocate for their interests.

Beyond research, the Fairwork Croatia project aims to inform the public and policymakers about the challenges faced by platform workers and to encourage platforms to adopt better practices based on these principles.

Learn more about the project: https://fair.work/en/fw/homepage/.