Redefining Employment Structure in the Digital Economy (KU Leuven | ETUI)

The Role of Intermediary Platforms & EORs in Shaping | Remote Work Dynamics

Fernando Pacheco | Leuven (BE) | February 20th, 2025

ETUI — KU Leuven conference | Future of work: reclaiming the value of work in the digital economy

Selected Stream: How the digital economy transforms the employment structure

Abstract

This paper examines how the digital economy, through intermediary platforms such as Oyster, Deel, and Remote, is transforming traditional employment structures and reshaping remote work dynamics. These platforms facilitate cross-border employment, introducing greater flexibility and broadening access to global talent pools. However, they also challenge conventional understandings of employer-employee relationships, creating complex layers of accountability and support for remote workers. Key questions driving this study include: How do intermediary platforms in the digital economy impact employment structures in terms of job stability, labor protection, labor laws, and organizational hierarchy? and When legal issues arise, such as harassment or labor law violations, do these platforms bear responsibility under local laws?

Through qualitative methodology, this study analyzes case studies of platforms and conducts interviews with remote workers and HR professionals to explore the complexities of international, intermediated contracts. We examine whether employees have sufficient legal protection and economic leverage to assert their rights in the jurisdiction of the final hiring company and assess whether recent cases offer precedents for workers in these complex arrangements. Our findings reveal that while intermediary platforms increase flexibility, they also necessitate new competencies in digital literacy and self-management from workers. Organizationally, traditional hierarchies are being redefined as remote teams and flexible contracts become more common. This research aims to map these shifts and provide insights into the evolving legal landscape of digital labor, offering a deeper understanding of employment structures in a digitally interconnected world.

Presentation here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-0RJN74-GJ8k8tIBKaoH4LeEQn3g3Lyl/view?usp=sharing

Author(s), Position, and Affiliation

Fernando Pacheco is a final-year PhD candidate in Communication Sciences at ISCTE-IUL, with a semester spent on Erasmus at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development Policies from the University of Lisbon. With 16 years of remote work experience, his executive career reinforces his academic path, offering practical insights into the evolving digital workplace. He has lived and worked in four countries — Brazil, Portugal, the United States, and Belgium. His research focuses on the future of work, remote work, and its economic and social impacts, with a particular emphasis on structural transformations driven by digitalization.

ORCID Academic Profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0495-3721

Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandopachecos/