The 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) concluded on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, with the adoption of a new convention aimed at protecting workers in the digital platform economy.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026, establishing the first international labour standard for work performed through digital labour platforms.
The convention was adopted during the closing sitting of the 114th International Labour Conference, which brought together government, employer and worker delegates from the organisation’s 187 member states.
Platform workers are individuals who earn income through digital platforms or applications that connect them with customers seeking services or tasks, such as ride-hailing drivers working for platforms like Uber and Bolt.
The new convention responds to the rapid growth of the platform economy, which has transformed the world of work by creating new income-generating opportunities while also exposing workers to significant decent work deficits.
It applies to digital labour platforms and platform workers, regardless of their employment status, and establishes a global framework for promoting decent work across the sector.
According to the ILO, the landmark convention addresses a wide range of issues affecting platform workers, including labour rights, protection against violence and harassment, fair remuneration, social protection, and greater transparency and accountability in the use of algorithms and automated decision-making systems.
The 114th Session of the International Labour Conference began on 1st June and concluded on Friday, 12 June 2026.
