UN Labour Organization Adopts First Binding International Standards for Gig Economy Workers

At the 114th annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, ILO member states voted 406 in favor and eight against to adopt the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, the first binding global treaty establishing labor protections for gig economy workers. The convention applies to all digital labor platforms and all platform workers regardless of whether they operate in the formal or informal economy, covering sectors such as food delivery, ride-hailing, and home services. It requires countries to guarantee gig workers fair pay and social security protections no less favorable than those afforded to other workers of equivalent employment status, and mandates that platforms provide clear, verifiable information about terms of engagement. A key provision addresses the widespread practice of classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees — a classification critics say allows platforms to sidestep minimum wage, workplace safety, and social security obligations. The convention enters into force in ratifying countries 12 months after at least two member states have ratified it, and while the ILO lacks direct enforcement power, ratification incorporates the standards into national law and opens avenues for legal action. The US, India, and Bangladesh urged flexible application based on national contexts, and the ITUC cautioned that permitted exclusions could leave some worker categories unprotected. Human rights and labor advocates described the agreement as a landmark turning point for platform workers globally.