ILO’s proposal to create binding global standards for gig and platform workers marks a turning point for labour rights

By Puja Pal, Amit Kumar

The International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, held from June 2–13, 2025. Every year, government, employer, and worker representatives from 187 member states convene at the ILC to shape international labour standards and define the ILO’s broad policy directions.

One of the key highlights of this conference was the discussion on ‘Decent Work in the Platform Economy,’ which appeared as the fifth item on the agenda. This marked the first standard-setting discussion on this subject. The ILO Governing Body had initially proposed this agenda item in 2021, adopting a double discussion procedure, with the first session at the 113th ILC (2025) and the second scheduled for the 114th ILC in 2026.

Big Breakthrough

A major breakthrough of the 113th ILC was the consensus to develop binding global labour standards specifically for the platform economy. These discussions were grounded in an ILO report that outlined the types and scope of possible standards and addressed the critical issue of how to define both platform workers and digital labour platforms. It was officially agreed that the item would return to the 114th ILC for a second discussion, to adopt a new Convention, supplemented by a Recommendation.

The ILO’s proposed Convention and Recommendation signify a major step toward regulating the rapidly expanding gig and platform economy. Currently, there is no internationally accepted definition of digital platform workers, nor are there binding international labour standards that specifically address their working conditions.

Platform workers often face decent work deficits, including a lack of social security, income instability, and limited access to fundamental workers’ rights. This is largely due to their misclassification as self-employed, which excludes them from national labour protections. Beyond these challenges, platform workers are also subject to algorithmic management, opaque data practices, involuntary account deactivations, and limited recourse in disputes.

As India rolls out social security measures for gig workers, the ILO’s standard-setting proposal could serve as a reference point in shaping the country’s regulatory frameworks for platform work

The proposed international standards aim to comprehensively address these gaps by introducing globally agreed definitions of terms like digital labour platforms, platform workers, intermediaries, and remuneration. If adopted, the standards would require the member states to guarantee platform workers the fundamental rights at work, including freedom of association, protection from forced and child labour, non-discrimination, and occupational safety and health.

It would also address the issue of proper employment classification to prevent misclassification of platform workers. It also includes social security protections to all platform workers and provisions to crucial issues such as algorithmic transparency, data privacy, account deactivation, and the use of automated systems.

Regulatory Efforts

Globally, countries are in the process of developing frameworks to regulate the gig and platform economy. The regulatory efforts to protect platform workers are relatively at a nascent stage, mostly emerging since 2022, with governments worldwide adopting three main approaches: Amending existing labour laws to include platform workers (US, Belgium, Chile & Ecuador), introducing standalone legislation specifically for gig and platform workers (EU, Argentina, Peru), and clarifying the employment status of platform workers to extend existing protections (Portugal & Mauritius).

So far, most regulatory initiatives have come from high-income countries, particularly in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Thus, ILO’s standard-setting proposal would also provide a global reference point for countries currently shaping their own regulatory frameworks for platform work.

India’s Move

While these discussions at the ILO are shaping global norms, India has also undertaken significant national reforms to protect its platform workforce. The Code on Social Security (CSS) 2020 recognises platform workers as a distinct category and lays the groundwork for comprehensive welfare measures, including life and disability insurance, accident coverage, health and maternity benefits, pension schemes, and crèche facilities. The CSS 2020 also envisages a Social Security Fund and the creation of a National Social Security Board for oversight.

India’s e-Shram portal, a national digital database, has already registered over 300 million unorganised workers, including gig and platform, enabling targeted delivery of welfare benefits. The Union Budget 2025-26 further supported this workforce with key announcements including issuing unique identity cards to platform workers, simplifying the registration process via e-Shram and Extending access to healthcare under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment’s pilot initiative is actively onboarding platform workers and aggregators onto the e-Shram portal. Major companies like Urban Company, Zomato, Blinkit, and Uncle Delivery have already joined this effort.

Additionally, States such as Rajasthan and Karnataka have enacted legislations, and Jharkhand has proposed draft Bills specifically for gig workers, which provide measures for the social security of these workers.

However, India’s approach has faced criticism for focusing primarily on social security coverage without clearly addressing the critical issue of employment classification. As a developing country, India faces the dual challenge of protecting platform workers while fostering innovation, job creation, and the flexibility that the sector offers. Estimates show that the costs of platforms will increase by 20-30 per cent if the workers are classified as employees. Nevertheless, expanding social security coverage to millions of platform workers remains a significant step toward improving their working conditions.

The ongoing tripartite negotiations at the ILO are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of work globally. The eventual adoption of a Convention and Recommendation will mark a turning point in the regulation of platform work and could help close major regulatory gaps in the gig economy.

The next key milestone will be the ratification by member states, which will determine the real-world impact of these international standards. The ILO’s proactive efforts to recognise the rights of platform workers are both timely and commendable. Developing international labour standards for this sector is essential to ensure that the rights, protections, and dignified working conditions of platform workers are universally acknowledged and enforced.

(Puja Pal is Associate Fellow at VV Giri National Labour Institute, Noida, and Amit Kumar is Assistant Professor of Economics at Christ University, Delhi NCR. Views are personal)