Human-Centered Regulation: The Approach of the European Union to the Digitalization of Employment Relations

This essay analyzes the European Union’s regulatory response to the digitalization of employment relations, highlighting its humancentered and rights-based approach. The EU aims to ensure that technological innovation promotes human development rather than undermines social protection. By avoiding deterministic assumptions, the EU embeds digital change within a balanced framework that attempts to reconcile economic efficiency with social justice. Key regulatory instruments such as the Platform Work Directive and the AI Act are examined for their role in redefining employment status, governing algorithmic management, and enhancing collective rights. The essay stresses the evolving role of social dialogue and highlights the EU’s distinctive legal culture, rooted in fundamental rights and participatory governance. Although progress has been made, challenges remain in terms of legal clarity and implementation. The essay offers insights for comparative analysis, emphasizing the need to respect the diversity of legal traditions in shaping national responses to digital transformation.