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The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted the Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, the world's first international standard regulating work performed through digital platforms.
The document was approved on the final day of the 114th session of the International Labour Conference, which was held in Geneva and brought together representatives of governments, employers and workers from 187 countries.
According to Sukti Dasgupta, Director of the ILO's Quality of Working Conditions Department, the adoption of the convention was a historic event. She noted that for the first time, employers, workers, and governments had adopted by consensus an international document dedicated to the present and future of work.
The platform economy is economic activity conducted on digital platforms that act as intermediaries between service providers and consumers. These platforms do not produce goods themselves, but rather create a space for interaction between those offering services or goods and those seeking them. Examples include ride-hailing services, housing rentals, and online retail. These platforms operate using algorithms and digital infrastructure to quickly match supply and demand.
The ILO notes that the platform economy has significantly transformed the labor market in recent years, providing millions of people with new income opportunities. However, many platform workers have been left without basic employment guarantees and social protection.
The adopted convention applies to all types of digital labor platforms and covers workers regardless of their employment status. The document establishes international principles aimed at ensuring decent working conditions in the rapidly developing platform employment sector.
ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo stated that during the discussions on the draft convention, participants were aware of the attention of millions of digital platform workers awaiting the outcome of the negotiations. He added that the organization had once again demonstrated its ability to shape the present and future of work, with a particular focus on the platform economy.
The Convention addresses a wide range of issues that have long been of concern to digital platform workers, including protection from violence and harassment, fair pay, and access to social protection.
The document places special emphasis on the transparency of algorithms and automated decision-making systems, which increasingly influence the distribution of orders, the level of income of workers, and the risks they face in the course of their work.
