VOA慢速英语2021 西班牙立法将外卖骑手归为平台员工（在线收听）

The Spanish government on Thursday approved a law that classifies food delivery riders as employees of the companies they work for. The law is meant to protect the workers and ensure they get better pay during low-demand hours.

西班牙政府周四通过了一项法律，将外卖骑手归为他们服务的公司的雇员。该法律旨在保护工人，并确保他们在低需求时段获得更好的报酬。

Before the law was approved, companies operating food delivery apps had classified these riders as self-employed.

在这项法律获得通过之前，各家经营外卖平台的公司将这些骑手归类为自雇工人。

The change could have far-reaching effects on Spanish businesses.

这一变化可能会对西班牙企业产生深远影响。

The new law also requires the companies to provide labor unions with details about their digital processes. That includes how company algorithms and AI systems assign jobs, judge worker performance and do other things.

这项新法律要求各公司向工会提供关于其数字化流程的详细信息。其中包括公司的算法和AI系统如何分配工作、判断员工绩效以及做其它事情。

Popular digital food delivery companies operating in Spain include Glovo, Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

在西班牙经营的热门外卖平台公司包括Glovo, Deliveroo 和优步优食。

Yolanda Díaz is Spain's Minister for Labor. She said the new law is part of "a modernization of the labor market" in Spain. That includes updating laws as new technologies develop to make sure workers' rights are upheld. She said the rule on disclosing digital processes helps prevent "algorithmic punishments" to workers.

约兰娜·迪亚茨是西班牙劳工部长。她表示，这项法律是西班牙劳动力市场现代化的一部分。这其中包括随着新技术发展而修订法律，以确保维护工人的权利。她说，公开数字化过程的规定有助于防止对工人的“算法惩罚”。

The legal changes are the latest affecting companies and workers in the self-employed economy. Last month, Britain's top court ruled that Uber drivers should be classed as "workers" and not as self-employed. That measure was seen as a major problem for the company.

这一法律变化是影响自雇经济中的企业和工人的最新动向。上个月，英国最高法院裁决，优步司机应该被归为公司员工而不是自雇工人。该措施被视为优步公司面临的一大难题。

The Spanish government agreed on the new law with the country's main business groups and labor organizations. The law is expected to take effect within months.

西班牙政府与该国的主要商业组织以及劳工组织就这项新法律达成了一致。该法律有望在数月内生效。

But the law was quickly opposed by a business group that represents digital food delivery companies. And some riders themselves say they would rather have the freedom of being self-employed.

但是这项法律受到了代表外卖平台的商业组织的反对。一些骑手也表示，他们宁愿拥有自雇的灵活性。

The Association of Service Platforms said that the rule on disclosing algorithms will "undoubtedly" harm the "digital economy in Spain."

服务平台协会表示，要求披露算法的规定无疑将会损害西班牙的数字经济。

In a statement, the Association said the rule is an attack on "the freedom to do business and [on] intellectual property rights."

该协会在一份声明中表示，这项规定是对经商自由和知识产权的打击。

The law came about after a court case brought by a former rider for Glovo. Last September, Spain's Supreme Court ruled that food delivery riders are employees, not self-employed workers.

这项法律是在Glovo外卖平台的一名前骑手提起法律诉讼之后制定的。去年9月，西班牙最高法院裁定，外卖骑手是公司员工而不是自雇工人。

The company Deliveroo, which operates in Spain and other countries, is based in London. It urged the Spanish government to think again and warned it about the law's effects in a statement. It said the law would lead to less work for riders, hurt the restaurant industry and "restrict the areas where platforms can operate."

在西班牙等国运营的Deliveroo公司总部位于伦敦。该公司在一份声明中督促西班牙政府重新考虑，并警告了这项法律的相关后果。该公司称，这项法律将会导致骑手工作量减少，伤害餐饮业并限制平台的运营区域。

Uber, which operates the Uber Eats service, said it is "fully committed to raising the standard of work." It said it is also committed to giving independent workers more benefits while letting them keep their freedom and control. An Uber statement said thousands of its food deliverers had just protested across Spain to demand they be able to stay independent.

经营优食平台的优步公司称其完全致力于提高工作标准。该公司表示，它也致力于给独立工人提供更多福利，同时让他们保留灵活性和控制权。优步公司在一份声明中表示，该公司有数千名外卖骑手在西班牙全国各地示威，要求保持他们的独立性。