Australian Unions are celebrating a new International Convention on the rights of gig workers as a big breakthrough that will significantly uplift the working lives of millions of gig workers around the world.
Following world-leading rights in the Australian gig economy with legislation passed by the Albanese government, the Convention was adopted by the UN's International Labor Organisation (ILO) in Geneva on Friday (AEST) and will come into force to protect gig workers' rights throughout the ILO's 187 member countries.
The Transport Workers Union and the ACTU, which have been instrumental in pushing for protections for gig workers in Australia, led the push to secure the new Convention which promotes gig workers' rights in the platform economy, including the right to be part of a union and to bargain as a group, regardless of whether they are considered employees.
The Convention also compels member countries to ensure digital labour platforms in their jurisdictions eliminate all forms of forced or compulsory labour throughout their enterprises and abolish the use of child labour.
In another win, gig workers will have the right to remove themselves from a work situation in which they have reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health, without being penalised.
Gig workers must also be protected from violence and harassment at work either online or involving the clients and customers of their employer. Countries that are signatories to the Convention will also have to take action to prevent work accidents.
The Convention will also help to ensure that gig workers have their employment formalised, get paid on time and at rates that at least match their country's minimum wage if there is one.
Gig workers will no longer be able to be sacked by an automated system, using algorithms to hire and fire. The Covnention means gig workers must now receive a written explanation from their employer and the right to appeal any decision that jeopardises their ability to get work from a digital labour platform.
Quotes attributable to TWU National Secretary, Michael Kaine:
"Australian gig workers have led the world in securing protections against unfair deactivations, and towards decent minimum standards on pay and conditions.
"This landmark Convention will give millions of gig workers better protections, instead of seeing tech billionaires and gig behemoths raking in the profits while denying even basic rights to workers.
"Gig workers around the world have been treated like robots for too long, and this Convention sends a signal to these platforms that the global community will not accept out-of-control algorithmic systems dictating people's lives. Our fight continues now to put decent standards in place across the gig economy, bolstered by this historic ILO decision which affirms that all gig workers have rights regardless of whether they are considered employees."
Quotes attributable to ACTU President, Michele O'Neil:
"This historic decision will make a real difference in the lives of millions of gig and platform workers in the world, who are finally recognised internationally as being workers with rights.
"It builds on the groundbreaking Australian gig worker legislation introduced in 2024.
"It breaks into the business model of some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world who have designed ways of having work done which have left workers without minimum standards of pay, conditions and safety.
"It means for platform workers that whether you are an employee or a contractor, however you might be classified, or described, you have rights at work.
"For the worker injured while rushing to complete a delivery, it mean that their safety, their health, their lives matter.
"For the worker who fears waking up one morning to find their account deactivated and their income gone, it means fairness, transparency and the right to be heard.
"Behind each of these provisions are real people. People who are working long hours to support their families. People who face risks every day simply to earn a living. People who too often feel invisible but no longer will be thanks to this landmark convention."
