In June 2026, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention No. 193, establishing the first global standards for gig economy workers. (hrw.org) This landmark treaty aims to extend labor protections to millions of individuals engaged in platform-based work, including sectors like food delivery and ride-hailing.
Key Provisions of the Convention:
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Fair Compensation: Ensures timely payment and earnings that meet at least the minimum wage, excluding tips.
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Social Security: Guarantees access to social security benefits, including coverage for injury, illness, unemployment, and retirement.
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Health and Safety: Mandates a safe working environment, addressing risks such as extreme temperatures and other hazards.
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Algorithmic Transparency: Requires companies to inform workers about automated systems used to monitor or evaluate their work, and to provide avenues for challenging significant automated decisions.
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Worker Classification: Aims to prevent misclassification by establishing a presumption of employment when companies exercise control over workers.
Despite the adoption of this convention, its effectiveness hinges on ratification and implementation by individual governments. As of now, the United States has not ratified this treaty, and its government voted against it. (gmanetwork.com) This lack of ratification means that gig workers in the U.S. may not yet benefit from these international protections.
In the UK, the government has introduced a Code of Conduct to extend Right to Work checks to the gig economy, with fines of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker. However, there is no legislation requiring companies to address modern slavery in their supply chains, only to report on its potential. This has led to calls for stronger laws mandating human rights due diligence. (hrw.org)
The adoption of the ILO’s Convention No. 193 represents a significant step toward protecting gig economy workers globally. However, its impact will depend on the actions of individual governments to ratify and enforce these standards.