Spain's Ley Rider marks five years with ongoing self-employment issues

Five years after the implementation of the ‘Ley Rider’ in Spain, many delivery workers continue to operate as self-employed rather than salaried employees. The law, which established a presumption of employment for platform-based delivery services, has faced delays in full execution due to the lack of a robust punitive regime.

Glovo completed the regularization of approximately 20,000 riders last summer after four years of resistance. Uber Eats is expected to finish its transition to a salaried model by the end of 2026, though it previously reverted to a self-employed model when competitors did not comply. Just Eat has consistently operated with salaried fleets.

Legal experts and labor representatives suggest that compliance only accelerated following a 2023 reform of the Penal Code to target employers who violate labor regulations. While the Ministry of Labor views the law as a necessary step to modernize labor rights, unions remain divided on its effectiveness and the speed of its implementation.