Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Center for Strategic Research held a round table entitled "Platform Employment in the New Conditions: What Changes After the Law on the Platform Economy." Together with representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the State Duma, the expert and academic community, as well as leading digital platforms, they discussed the adopted law on the platform economy and future regulatory detailing at the level of by-laws.
According to the participants, the adopted law was an important step in the formation of a basic regulatory framework, but it is now that the most subtle and meaningful part of the work begins – filling this framework with tools, concepts and mechanisms.
The moderator of the round table, CEO of the CSR Pavel Smelov noted: "Russia is one of the few countries where digital platforms have become a truly systemic part of the economy. We have not just implemented technologies, we have created our own model – and this is a serious competitive advantage. Now our task is not to lose our leadership, to take the next step – to turn the platform economy into a full-fledged export model. It is no longer just about technologies, but about a new logic of the economic structure that can be transmitted beyond the country's borders."
Also, in his opinion, the key direction of the next stage is the issue of platform employment: "We are already living in a new reality: there is a platform, there is a platform economy, and we still continue to hold on to the old model of social security, as if nothing has changed. The social security system needs to be revised taking into account how the employment market is actually structured today. People are developing other principles of financial stability: investments, a safety net, additional income. Therefore, it is important not only to protect, but also to educate – to help people navigate modern work formats and make informed decisions. Especially when it comes to those for whom the platform is not their main, but additional employment."
The Ministry of Economic Development emphasized that the implementation of the law will require a flexible and consistent approach, especially in terms of employment. The main focus in the coming months is work on by-laws, the launch of a digital platform registry mechanism, and the preparation of clarifications.
“Russia has made great strides in developing the platform economy: we already have our own effectively functioning models that are of interest abroad. But it is important not to stop there. Platforms are developing rapidly, and regulation should not slow down, but rather accompany this process, be flexible and targeted. We see that citizens make decisions based not only on the logic of the future, but also on current circumstances — and pensions and social guarantees are not always perceived as real values. Therefore, the platform can become a channel through which we will rethink social policy — at the level of product, convenience, and trust. We have examples when digital, platform services became a necessary tool for performers to legalize and comply with legal requirements, including the calculation and payment of taxes. Platform tools have proven their convenience and demand. In turn, this approach provides additional opportunities to ensure control by the state. Our task today is not to go to extremes, but to maintain an open dialogue, flexibility, and thoughtfulness. This is precisely the strength of the platform economy,” said Vladimir Voloshin, Director of the Department of Digital Development and Data Economy at the Ministry of Economic Development.
State Duma Deputy Stanislav Naumov reported that an expert council will be created under the Committee on Economic Policy, which will undertake in-depth study of unresolved issues.
"In September, we are ready to move on. For me personally, there are three priorities today. The first is export orientation: platforms should help Russian businesses enter foreign markets, and not just regulate access of foreign players to ours. The second is the development of internal B2B interaction, where online platforms can become a full-fledged infrastructure for cooperation between suppliers. And the third is the use of platforms to improve the efficiency of state and municipal procurement," he said.
As for platform employment, according to the deputy, this is not just a regulatory issue – it is a question of filling the social fund and, as a result, a real opportunity to increase the minimum level of pensions in those regions where it is objectively insufficient today. "This is how I understand the social task of regulation," he concluded.
Business supported the general vector, but drew attention to the need for a differentiated approach. Industry representatives emphasized that uniform standards for platforms with fundamentally different models — from marketplaces to service aggregators — could result in risks for flexibility and employment.
"The platform economy has already changed the market, and the self-employed regime has proven that people are ready to come out of the shadows if they are offered transparent and convenient conditions. Let's not abolish what works, but rebuild the old – so that the economy, employment and the contribution system develop synchronously," said Anton Danilov-Danilyan, Deputy Chairman of Delovaya Rossiya, head of the working group of transport service aggregators at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. According to Yuri Bogdanov, General Director of the Association of Digital Platforms, "it is digitalization, platform development and the tax regime on professional income that give the state a chance to oust gray practices through transparency."
"Platform employment is being formed to a greater extent in industries with high demand for flexible types of employment, allowing for the expansion of participation of various groups of the population in the economy. Therefore, it is important not just to offer them standard social benefits, but to understand what they really need and what they are ready to use," noted Rimma Chichakyan, Director of Legal Affairs and Government Relations at Yandex Taxi.
Ozon representative Alexander Vasiliev supported this position. "We are no longer living in an industrial economy, but in a post-industrial economy, and regulation should take this into account. At the same time, it is important to maintain a choice between different employment formats and not limit new models," he noted.
The participants of the discussion agreed that the development of the platform economy does not require strict regulation, but rather fine-tuning and careful attention to specifics. Among the priority areas, the participants highlighted the need to clarify the criteria for the integrity of platforms, the formation of mechanisms for distinguishing employment from shadow schemes, as well as work on the status of the performer and protection tools. Particular attention was paid to the creation of a sustainable format for dialogue between the state, business and experts – both on the parliamentary platform and within the framework of the implementation of the law in practice.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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