ILO Platform Economy Convention 2026: Rights, responsibilities for stakeholders

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The platform economy, particularly work- organised and facilitated through digital labour platforms, has become an increasingly important feature of the modern world of work. While it has created new opportunities for businesses, workers, and the formalisation of economic activities, it has also raised concerns regarding working conditions, labour rights, social protection, and the use of automated decision-making systems.

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Recognising both the opportunities and challenges presented by the platform economy, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, on June 12, 2026.

The Convention establishes an international framework for promoting decent work in the platform economy by setting out rights, protections, and responsibilities applicable to digital labour platforms, digital platform workers, and member-states.

Below are the key provisions of the Convention .

I. Definitions

Article 1

For the purposes of this Convention:

(a) the term “digital labour platform” means a legal person or, where applicable under national law, natural person that, through digital technologies, using automated decision-making systems:

(i) organises and/or facilitates work performed by persons for remuneration or

payment, for the provision of service, upon request of the recipient or requestor;

(ii) regardless of whether that work is performed online or in a specific geographic location;

(b) the term “digital platform worker” means a person employed or engaged to work:

(i) for the provision of service organised and/or facilitated by a digital labour platform;

(ii) for remuneration or payment;

(iii) regardless of their classification of status in employment;

(c) the term “intermediary” means a legal person or, where applicable under national law, natural person that makes available the work of a digital platform worker:

(i) through contractual relationships with the digital labour platform and with the

digital platform worker; or

(ii) as part of a subcontracting chain between the digital labour platform and the digital platform worker;

(d) the term “remuneration” or “payment” means the amount due under national laws and regulations, collective agreements or contractual obligations, to a digital platform worker, according to their classification of status in employment, in exchange for the work performed. Remuneration does not include any compensation for expenses or other costs incurred by digital platform workers in carrying out their work.

II. Scope

Article 2

1. The Convention shall apply to:

(a) all digital labour platforms;

(b) all digital platform workers, unless otherwise specified in this Convention, whether they are in the formal or informal economy.

2. Where special problems of a substantial nature arise, each Member may, after consulting with representative organizations of employers and workers and, where they exist, with

organizations representing digital labour platforms and digital platform workers, exclude from the application of all or part of the Convention:

(a) limited categories of digital labour platforms; or

(b) limited categories of digital platform workers.

3. In case of exclusions under paragraph 2 of this Article, and where practicable, the Member shall take measures to extend progressively the application of the Convention to the categories of digital labour platforms and digital platform workers concerned.

4. Each Member which avails itself of the possibility of exclusion under paragraph 2 of this Article shall, in its first report on the application of the Convention under article 22 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization:

(a) indicate the limited categories of digital labour platforms or of digital platform workers excluded under paragraph 2 of this Article;

(b) give the reasons for such exclusions and the position of its law and practice in respect of the categories excluded, stating the respective positions of the organizations referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.

5. In its subsequent reports on the application of the Convention under article 22 of the

Constitution, the Member shall specify any measures that may have been taken with a view to extending the application of the Convention to the categories of digital labour platforms or digital platform workers concerned?