Huge win for rights in gig economy

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

The International Labour Organisation has approved a convention granting gig and platform workers rights such as written explanations for deactivation, the ability to appeal, collective bargaining, timely payment, and protections against unsafe conditions and harassment. This agreement seeks to extend labor protections to millions of often unregulated gig workers worldwide, challenging algorithmic management and requiring member countries to enforce these new standards.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted a landmark convention aimed at improving protections for gig and platform workers worldwide, addressing longstanding concerns regarding their rights and working conditions. The decision was made in Geneva following extensive advocacy by global trade unions, including Australia’s ACTU and the Transport Workers Union.

Under the new convention, gig workers who are “deactivated” or removed from digital platforms must be provided with a written explanation for their loss of work. They also gain the right to appeal these decisions, with member countries required to ensure that platforms include “appropriate human involvement” in the review process, reducing the effects of automated dismissals.

The convention further empowers gig and platform workers to unionize and seek collective bargaining rights, regardless of whether they have traditional employee status. This shift aims to extend labor protections to a sector often regarded as outside the scope of customary employment laws.

In addition, the rules mandate that gig workers be paid on time and receive compensation at rates at least equal to the applicable minimum wage in their respective countries. They are entitled to withdraw from work situations that pose imminent and serious risks to their health or safety without facing penalties. Measures also call for protections against violence and harassment, both online and in person, involving clients or customers associated with the platform.

Signatory countries will be obligated to take proactive steps to prevent workplace accidents among gig workers and uphold these new standards.

Michael Kainie, national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, described the convention as a significant advance that will enhance the working lives of millions globally. He criticized how the industry has treated gig workers “like robots,” emphasizing that the convention signals a global consensus against unchecked algorithmic control over workers’ livelihoods while tech companies continue to generate substantial profits.

By establishing these rights, the ILO’s convention represents a potential turning point in safeguarding gig economy labor forces, aiming to balance the power dynamics between platform operators and their workers internationally.