UN labour organization sets first binding employment standards for gig workers

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, June 12 (Reuters) – The International Labour Organization on Friday agreed to adopt the first binding employment standards for platforms offering services such as ride-hailing, food delivery and e-commerce.

A total of 406 members voted in favour and eight against, while 36 abstained. Members of the U.N. agency, which promotes international labour rights, include  governments, employers and workers.

The agreed ILO convention broadly seeks to extend core labour rights and protections to gig workers, including pay, safety and social protections. 

    However, some of these protections are linked to employment status, distinguishing between those classified as self-employed and those recognised as employees.

    The convention also states that platforms must disclose how automated systems affect workers and allow human involvement in key decisions like account deactivation.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Friederike Heine)