The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Friday adopted a landmark convention setting the first binding international standards for gig workers, including those in ride-hailing and food delivery, at its annual conference in Geneva.
The agreement is designed to extend labour protections to digital platform workers who have often been treated as independent contractors rather than employees.
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NEW: @ilo agreed to adopt the FIRST binding employment standards for gig workers — uber, food ‌delivery, ect—potentially giving them rights on pay, safety and benefits—with the U.S. leading the charge.
— Marisela Ramirez (@mariselapenny) June 12, 2026
U.S. Rep Lorenzo Riboni told delegates the U.S. did NOT support a… https://t.co/QZlQkjBTzu pic.twitter.com/wevBTDAswf
Worker protections take centre stage
The convention covers minimum remuneration, occupational safety and health, protection against unjustified termination or deactivation, and disclosure of how automated systems affect workers.
The standards apply regardless of employment status, though how they are implemented will still depend on national law and ratification by governments.
The text adopted by ILO members, as quoted by Al Jazeera, applies to “all digital labour platforms” and “all digital platform workers… whether they are in the formal or informal economy.”
Divisions emerge over regulation
The vote exposed the divisions around regulating the platform economy. 406 members voted in favour of the convention, eight voted against and 36 abstained.
The United States and New Zealand opposed the measure, while Britain and India abstained; China, Japan, Germany, France and South Africa were among those voting in favour. US representative Lorenzo Riboni said Washington did not support a prescriptive binding convention in a fast-changing sector, warning that “overly rigid rules hinder innovation and harm workers.”
The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) adoption of a new global treaty for decent working conditions in the gig economy is a major step toward protecting the rights of millions of workers worldwide https://t.co/aSed765aux
— Bassam Khawaja (@Bassam_Khawaja) June 12, 2026
Labour advocates hail a milestone
Labour groups and rights advocates welcomed the decision as a long-awaited step for a workforce estimated by the World Bank to number in the hundreds of millions.
The World Bank puts the number of app-based gig workers globally at between 154 million and 435 million. Amanda Brown, vice chair of the ILO’s Workers’ Group, called the deal a landmark moment for platform workers worldwide, and Human Rights Watch’s Lena Simet said, “It is a floor, not a ceiling,” urging governments to ratify the convention and close classification gaps for workers mislabelled as self-employed.
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The real test lies ahead
The ILO does not have direct enforcement powers, but its members can file complaints that may lead to investigations and raise pressure on governments.
Once a country ratifies the convention and incorporates it into national law, individuals may be able to seek redress against platform companies through the courts.
For now, the convention marks the first global attempt to define baseline rights for the gig economy, but its impact will depend on how many governments sign on and how firmly they implement it.
FAQs
Q1: What is the new ILO convention on gig workers?
Ans: The convention sets the first binding international standards covering pay, safety, worker protections and transparency for digital platform workers.
Q2: Will the new ILO gig worker rules apply immediately worldwide?
Ans: No, the convention must first be ratified and incorporated into national laws by individual countries before it can take effect.
