A Global Turning Point for Gig Workers: ILO Adopts Convention No. 193

Kathmandu-In a landmark victory for workers’ rights in the digital age, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted the world’s first legally binding international treaty aimed at protecting workers in the rapidly expanding platform economy.

The historic agreement, known as ILO Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, was overwhelmingly approved during the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva. The convention secured support from 406 delegates, with only eight voting against and 36 abstaining, marking one of the strongest endorsements of a labor standard in recent years.

The adoption of Convention No. 193 is being hailed as a watershed moment for the estimated hundreds of millions of workers worldwide who earn their livelihoods through digital platforms such as ride-hailing, food delivery, freelance marketplaces, and app-based service providers.For decades, many of these workers have existed in a legal grey area—performing labor that powers modern economies while remaining excluded from basic employment protections.

A New Era for Gig Workers

The rise of digital platforms has fundamentally transformed labor markets across the world. From transportation and food delivery to household services and online freelancing, platform-based work has become a defining feature of the global economy.

However, labor advocates argue that technological innovation has often outpaced legal protections.Platform companies have frequently classified workers as independent contractors or “partners” rather than employees, a distinction that has allowed many employers to avoid obligations related to minimum wages, paid leave, social security contributions, workplace safety, and collective bargaining rights.

Convention No. 193 seeks to address these concerns by formally recognizing platform workers as workers entitled to fundamental labor protections and rights.The treaty guarantees workers’ rights to organize, engage in collective bargaining, receive fair remuneration, enjoy safe and healthy working conditions, and be protected from violence, harassment, and discrimination in the workplace.

It also addresses growing concerns about algorithmic management systems that increasingly control workers’ access to jobs, performance ratings, and even account suspensions without human oversight.

Nepal’s Growing Platform Economy

The implications of the convention are particularly significant for developing countries such as Nepal, where digital labor platforms have expanded rapidly in recent years.

Although comprehensive national data remains unavailable, labor experts estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 people in Nepal are currently engaged in platform-based work through services such as ride-sharing, courier delivery, and food delivery applications.Returning from the ILO conference in Geneva, Ajay Kumar Rai, General Secretary of the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), described the convention as a historic step toward ensuring labor justice in the digital economy.

“Every day we use services such as ride-hailing applications and food delivery platforms. The people providing those services are workers, and they deserve the same rights and protections as any other worker,” Rai said.

He noted that while global estimates suggest between 200 million and 400 million people are engaged in platform work, the sector remains largely unregulated in many countries, including Nepal.

The Hidden Costs of Flexibility

While platform companies often promote flexibility and entrepreneurial freedom, workers’ organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about precarious employment conditions.

Many platform workers face long working hours, income instability, and significant occupational risks without adequate social protection.Delivery riders and drivers, for example, are routinely exposed to road accidents, harsh weather conditions, and health hazards. Yet responsibility for medical expenses, compensation, and insurance coverage frequently remains unclear.During discussions leading to the convention’s adoption, delegates highlighted numerous cases in which workers were deactivated from digital platforms through automated systems without explanation or opportunity for appeal.Such practices, labor advocates argue, create constant uncertainty and psychological stress for workers whose livelihoods depend entirely on maintaining access to digital platforms.

Organizing the Unorganized

The challenge of organizing platform workers remains particularly acute in countries where large portions of the labor force operate in the informal economy.

According to a joint study conducted by the ILO and the Government of Nepal in 2018, approximately 84.6 percent of Nepal’s workforce was employed in the informal sector. Labor leaders believe that figure remains largely unchanged today.Rai acknowledged that efforts to organize digital platform workers in Nepal are still in their early stages.“Trade unions have only begun organizing platform workers over the last couple of years,” he said. “This convention gives workers and unions a stronger international framework to advocate for their rights.”

Internationally, platform worker organizations have become increasingly active, building networks that span countries and continents. Labor leaders expect Convention No. 193 to accelerate similar organizing efforts in emerging economies.

From International Agreement to National Law

While the ILO itself lacks direct enforcement powers, the convention creates significant legal and political pressure on member states to align national legislation with international labor standards.

Once ratified by individual countries and incorporated into domestic law, workers may gain stronger legal grounds to challenge labor rights violations and seek compensation through national courts.For Nepal, labor advocates argue that the next steps should include parliamentary ratification of Convention No. 193, amendments to existing labor legislation, and the creation of a clear legal definition of digital platform workers.

They are also calling for the inclusion of platform workers in Nepal’s contribution-based social security system, along with mandatory accident insurance, minimum earnings guarantees, and transparent human review mechanisms for disciplinary actions taken by digital platforms.

Balancing Innovation and Human Dignity

The adoption of Convention No. 193 reflects a broader global debate over how societies should govern technological innovation.

Few dispute the economic opportunities created by digital platforms. Yet labor experts argue that innovation must not come at the expense of fundamental worker protections.

As governments worldwide grapple with the future of work, the convention establishes an important principle: technological progress and human dignity must advance together.

For millions of platform workers from ride-share drivers and delivery couriers to care workers and online freelancers the agreement represents more than a legal milestone. It is a long-awaited recognition that their labor is work, their contributions matter, and their rights deserve protection.The challenge now lies in turning that historic promise into reality.