Members of the UN labour agency voted overwhelmingly on Friday to adopt the landmark convention, establishing new protections for people working in sectors such as ride-hailing, food delivery and online commerce.
The measure received strong backing from delegates, with 406 votes in favour, eight against and 36 abstentions. The International Labour Organization (ILO) brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to shape global labour standards.
Supporters say the agreement marks a significant milestone in efforts to address growing concerns about working conditions in the rapidly expanding platform economy.
Under the new framework, digital labour platforms will be required to provide greater transparency regarding the use of automated systems that influence workers’ jobs and livelihoods.
The convention also introduces provisions ensuring that human oversight is involved in major decisions affecting workers, including cases where platform accounts may be suspended or terminated.
However, certain rights and protections outlined in the agreement will depend on how workers are classified under national laws, distinguishing between those considered employees and those regarded as self-employed contractors.
Labour advocates welcomed the decision as a major step toward improving accountability and fairness in the digital workplace, while implementation of the standards will depend on adoption by individual countries.
Goodness Anunobi
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