ILO Moves to Strengthen Labour Rights and Social Protection for Digital Platform Workers

ILO Moves to Strengthen Labour Rights and Social Protection for Digital Platform Workers
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The International Labour Organization (ILO), in cooperation with governments and representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations, is pursuing efforts to review labour regulations and expand social protection coverage for workers engaged in digital platforms.

These efforts follow the adoption of the ILO’s Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy on June 12, 2026, marking the establishment of the first dedicated international labour standard for this sector. The convention seeks to address challenges arising from unclear employment relationships, the classification of platform workers as independent contractors, and their exclusion from statutory employment benefits.

According to the ILO, governments, labour representatives and international experts have emphasized that innovation in the digital economy should not come at the expense of workers’ fundamental rights.

Key priorities include greater transparency in platform algorithmic management, protection of workers’ personal data, fair remuneration, improved occupational safety and health, and broader access to social security benefits. These measures aim to promote decent working conditions and ensure that digital economic growth is accompanied by adequate labour protections.