Home / Business and Economy / ILO Adopts Landmark Convention for Gig Economy
ILO Adopts Landmark Convention for Gig Economy
12 Jun
Summary
- New UN convention extends labor protections to gig economy workers.
- Hundreds of millions globally may benefit from this agreement.
- It addresses struggles of labor laws keeping pace with digital work.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted a historic international convention aimed at extending labor protections to hundreds of millions of gig economy workers globally. This landmark agreement, finalized at the 114th annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, applies to all platform workers, irrespective of their employment status.
This convention marks a significant step as labor practices have struggled to keep pace with the dramatic shifts in work due to digital platforms. The World Bank estimated up to 435 million online gig workers worldwide previously fell outside regular labor protections.
Companies often classify these workers as independent contractors despite controlling tasks and pay via algorithms, allowing them to bypass minimum wage, safety, and social security requirements. Human Rights Watch hailed the convention as a turning point, establishing the first global standard to protect gig workers' rights and hold digital platforms accountable.
