The International Labour Organization begins its final round of talks on Monday, June 1, on the first binding employment standards for platforms offering services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, and e-commerce. A central sticking point is whether protections such as minimum wage and benefits including healthcare, sick leave, and social security should apply to all workers on these platforms, or depend on whether they are employees or self-employed. The ILO started preliminary talks on platform worker employment last year, with members planning to agree binding rules and recommendations by the end of next week.
The talks will also address transparency in automated management, including how algorithmic systems determine pay, allocate work, and assess performance. Any outcome at the UN agency, which promotes international labor rights, must be agreed by governments, employers, and workers within the ILO system.
Countries Diverge on Regulatory Approach
The US, China, Argentina, and India favor a less prescriptive approach, while the European Union, Brazil, and Mexico support stronger protections, said Lena Simet, senior advisor on economic justice at Human Rights Watch. Negotiations are expected to be difficult, and some members could attempt to water down wording.
Rights Groups and Employers Outline Competing Priorities
Rights groups and trade unions say the widespread classification of workers as independent contractors allows companies to sidestep minimum wage requirements and obligations such as healthcare, sick leave, and social security contributions. "There is a serious problem with transparency and accountability around how algorithms are used to determine pay and performance," said Simet.
The International Organisation of Employers, which represents about 50 million companies worldwide, has said any framework should remain flexible, allowing countries to adapt rules to national circumstances. Ride-hailing app company Uber echoed that view. "It should enable countries to provide meaningful protections while preserving the flexibility, choice, and independence that many workers value," an Uber spokesperson said.
The International Trade Union Confederation, the main global organisation representing workers, is calling for a strong, binding convention. "Technological innovation cannot be used as an excuse to weaken democratic labour rights," its General Secretary Luc Triangle told Reuters.
FAQ
What is the ILO discussing on June 1?
The International Labour Organization begins its final round of talks on Monday, June 1, on the first binding employment standards for platforms offering ride-hailing, food delivery, and e-commerce services. The talks address whether minimum wage and benefits should apply to all platform workers or depend on employment status, and will also cover transparency in algorithmic management systems.
Which countries support stronger protections for gig workers?
The European Union, Brazil, and Mexico support stronger protections for platform workers, while the US, China, Argentina, and India favor a less prescriptive approach, according to Lena Simet, senior advisor on economic justice at Human Rights Watch.
