More than 150 policymakers, statisticians, social partners, platform operators, and researchers from over 20 countries around the world are gathering for the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work on 29 September in Singapore, Hosted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore's Manpower Research and Statistics Department (MRSD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the conference marks a significant step in global knowledge exchange to address data gaps and drive action in the platform economy.
The conference aims to support the establishment of trusted and harmonised international statistical frameworks for digital platform employment (DPE) that are crucial to inform inclusive, evidence-based, and future-ready policies for worker protection and economic growth in Singapore and beyond.
It does so by bringing together diverse stakeholders for cross-border dialogue, knowledge sharing and multilateral collaboration, with the goals of generating better data and analysis for stronger legal protection of platform workers and policies that promote opportunities in the platform economy, supporting the development of harmonised statistics on DPE, and drive global collaboration and dialogue about the future of DPE.
Globally, despite its rapid growth, digital platform work is not fully captured in labour force data because of the lack of internationally agreed statistical standards and definitions, compounded by the fact that such work comprises a diverse range of activities from transport and delivery to professional services like design, coding and consulting, and is often sporadic in nature. This makes it difficult to assess its true impact on workers, work arrangements and incomes. It can lead to inconsistent measurement in labour force surveys, and an inability to fully understand platform workers' socio-economic outcomes. Without better visibility, digital platform arrangements risk being managed with blunt rather than calibrated policies, and some workers could outside existing employment and social protection frameworks.
Robust and consistent data is therefore crucial to governments' efforts in designing evidence-based policies that safeguard workers' rights and well-being while also supporting higher-skilled freelancers and professionals in accessing global opportunities. These could have implication on areas like workplace injury compensation, housing and retirement adequacy, and career mobility initiatives. Data measurements need to capture the breadth of work activities, from lower-income platform workers to higher-skilled segments such as professional freelancers and consultants.
Beyond national efforts, standardised data also provide countries with a shared evidence base that supports efforts to regulate cross-border platform activity, assess employer obligations, and account for digital services in labour mobility and trade frameworks.
Singapore is among the first countries in the world to conduct annual national surveys on platform work. These efforts, along with close tripartite collaboration, were critical to the introduction of the Platform Workers Act, which strengthens protection and representation for workers.
In 2023, the MOM and the ILO produced a working paper at the 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). It highlighted measurement challenges and called for standardised concepts and methods, which in turn led to the formation of an expert group on digital platform work, with Singapore co-hosting today's Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work with the ILO.
Mr Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary, MOM said, "Digital Platform Employment is growing rapidly, and thus, international measurement standards need to keep pace to inform evidence-based policymaking. Since 2016, Singapore has conducted dedicated national surveys to better understand this evolving segment, and this was critical to the introduction of the Platform Workers Act earlier this year. Looking ahead, we must also track higher-skilled platform roles, not just lower-income segments. By preparing early - as we did with delivery and ride-hailing workers a decade ago - we can ensure timely data and policies for this next wave of platform work. We look forward to collaborating with the ILO as we exchange insights with the global community with the aim of establishing harmonised statistical standards for DPE that promote a fair, inclusive, and future-ready platform economy in Singapore and beyond."
Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General, ILO said, "Digital platform employment has reshaped the world of work, creating new employment and income opportunities and driving economic efficiency but also raising challenges regarding protection and rights of workers. As digital platforms scale globally, so must our measurements. Now is the time for international statistical standards, so we have comparable data evidence needed to uphold rights and extend social protection - advancing decent work whilst promoting its economic potential. Reliable data is also crucial to inform the ILO's ongoing standard setting on decent work for platform workers. I am pleased that the ILO is partnering with Singapore's Ministry of Manpower to convene this important Global Dialogue, bringing together our tripartite constituents and other stakeholders to close these data gaps."
Through cross-border dialogue, tripartite engagement and multilateral cooperation, the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work will lay the groundwork for stronger international measurement standards to ensure platform workers are visible, valued and fairly represented in the future of work. The discussions will also serve as a key milestone in the lead-up to the 22nd ICLS in 2028, where measurement standards on DPE will be presented.
