Background and Scope
The Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026, known as ILO Convention No. 193, is the first international labour convention specifically addressing work organised through digital platforms.
It was adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2026.
It applies to digital labour platforms that organise work:
- at a physical location, such as ride-hailing, delivery and home services;
- remotely through the internet, such as online freelancing, data annotation and digital professional services.
Its protections apply to platform workers irrespective of how they are described in contracts or classified under national law.
Rights and Employment Status
The Convention requires countries to ensure that platform workers enjoy fundamental rights at work, including:
- freedom of association;
- effective recognition of collective bargaining;
- elimination of forced labour;
- abolition of child labour;
- protection against discrimination;
- a safe and healthy working environment.
It also requires systems for determining the correct employment status of platform workers.
Platforms should not be allowed to classify workers as independent contractors merely through contractual language when the actual working relationship displays characteristics of employment.
The determination should consider the real conditions under which work is performed, including the platform’s control over pricing, work allocation, performance and access to customers.
Fair Working Conditions
The Convention seeks to protect workers in areas such as:
- fair and transparent remuneration;
- timely payment;
- working time and rest;
- occupational safety and health;
- social-security coverage;
- maternity and sickness protection;
- access to grievance and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Workers must receive understandable information about the terms and conditions governing their work.
The Convention also addresses suspension and deactivation of worker accounts. Platforms should provide reasons for important decisions and allow workers to challenge decisions that affect their livelihood.
Algorithmic Management and Data Protection
Digital platforms frequently use algorithms to allocate work, calculate ratings, determine pay and deactivate workers.
Convention No. 193 requires greater transparency regarding automated decision-making. Workers should be informed about systems that significantly affect:
- access to work;
- remuneration;
- performance evaluation;
- rankings and ratings;
- suspension or termination.
Important automated decisions should remain subject to meaningful human oversight and review.
The Convention also seeks protection of workers’ personal data. Platforms should collect and use only relevant data and should not misuse information obtained through continuous digital monitoring.
Implementation and Importance
Member States that ratify the Convention must implement its principles through laws, regulations, collective agreements or other appropriate measures.
Implementation requires:
- registration and accountability of digital platforms;
- effective labour inspection;
- access to platform-held information;
- cooperation across national borders;
- representation of workers and platform businesses;
- penalties and remedies for violations.
The Convention does not automatically become binding on every ILO member merely because it has been adopted. A country becomes legally bound after formally ratifying it and completing the required national process.
As a newly adopted convention, it has not yet entered into force internationally. It will enter into force after receiving the minimum number of ratifications required under the ILO system.
For India, its principles are relevant to app-based drivers, delivery workers and online workers who often face uncertain earnings, limited social security and algorithmic control. It can guide the development of national and state-level gig-worker laws.
Conclusion
ILO Convention No. 193 establishes the first global labour framework for the digital platform economy. It seeks to ensure that technological innovation does not weaken fundamental labour rights, fair working conditions, social protection and human control over algorithmic decisions.
