The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the adoption of the Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy.
Describing the Convention as historic in a statement signed by its general secretary, Joel Odigie, the Pan African Regional Organisation said it joins the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in “welcoming the adoption of the ILO Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, 2026, by the 114th International Labour Conference”.
According to the statement, “This historic Convention establishes the first global labour standard dedicated to platform workers and affirms that workers’ rights apply equally in the digital economy.”
The Convention provides important protections against worker misclassification, unfair deactivation, opaque algorithmic management, violations of privacy, unsafe working conditions, and exclusion from social protection.
“For Africa, where millions of workers increasingly depend on digital platforms for their livelihoods, the Convention offers a powerful framework for promoting decent work, fair remuneration, social protection, occupational safety and health, and the rights to organise and bargain collectively,” Odigie stated.
ITUC-Africa, he said, fully supports the ITUC’s call for governments to move swiftly towards ratification and
implementation.
“We urge African governments to ratify and domesticate the Convention without delay and to engage trade unions and platform workers in developing national laws and policies that reflect its provisions.
“The African trade union movement stands ready to organise platform workers, strengthen their collective voice, provide support and representation, and work with governments and other stakeholders to ensure that technological innovation advances social justice rather than precarious work.
The future of Africa’s digital economy must be built on rights, dignity, fairness, and decent work for all,” Comrade Odigie stated.
