ILO Reaches Compromise on Digital Platform Work: A balanced outcome from an agency work industry perspective

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has concluded negotiations on a new instrument governing digital labour platforms, delivering what participants describe as a "balanced compromise" after two weeks of intense debate among employers, workers, and governments.

From an agency work industry the final text provides important progress with regard to the correct classification of people performing platform work, avoiding practices that would have undermined their business model, while also falling short of some elements the World Employment Confederation had hoped to secure, such as a prohibition to charge fees to job seekers. "As an industry, we can be reasonably satisfied," WEC President Bettina Schaller noted.

The ILO had initially proposed a Convention and a Recommendation and after two weeks, only the Convention could be agreed upon due to the sensivity and controversy in the tripartite negotiations. At the same time, the Convention adresses most of the important elements and sets the first, global standard to regulate digital labour platforms.