The ILO adopts the first global treaty to protect platform workers

Member states of the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted on Friday the first international convention dedicated to digital platform workers. This text targets the millions of people who work via applications and platforms such as delivery, passenger transport, on-demand services, and certain remote services.

The convention will apply regardless of the legal status granted to these workers in each country. Its aim is to prevent the loss of fundamental protections simply because a worker is considered self-employed rather than an employee. States that ratify the treaty will be required to guarantee respect for fundamental labor rights, including freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the prohibition of forced labor and child labor.

A response to the rise of the platform economy

The text also includes guarantees regarding remuneration, social security, occupational health, and protection against violence or harassment. Platforms will have to ensure greater transparency regarding payments, any deductions, and certain decisions affecting workers. The agreement also addresses the growing role of algorithms in the organization of work.

For several years, unions and NGOs have denounced an economic model based on high flexibility but also on transferring risks to workers. In many countries, drivers, delivery workers, and digital service providers do not benefit from the same protections as traditional employees, even though the platforms largely control their working conditions.

The treaty must now be ratified by states to enter into force. The ILO anticipates its application twelve months after the first two ratifications. For social rights advocates, this convention represents one of the most significant developments in international labor law in recent years, as the digital economy transforms employment patterns worldwide.