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11.06.2025 16:17

First steps toward international regulation of platform economy taken at the International Labour Conference

International legal regulation of platform-based work is needed to safeguard workers’ rights in a changing world of work, says SAK lawyer Paula Ilveskivi. She considers the progress of the negotiations regrettably slow.

Edustajat istumassa suuressa kokoussaliassa ILO:n kansainvälisen työkonferenssin (ILC) 2025 istunnon aikana

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite United Nations agency where decision-making involves equal representation from governments, trade unions, and employer organisations from different countries.

Currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Labour Conference gathers annually to decide on matters such as the adoption of conventions and recommendations, and to address violations by member states.

This year, for the first time, the conference is negotiating regulation of the platform economy. The two-year negotiation process aims to establish a legally binding international agreement on the status and rights of platform workers that would ensure decent work in the platform economy.

—The platform economy has grown rapidly around the world and appears to be expanding into more and more sectors, in addition to already familiar food delivery and transportation services. International legal regulation of platform-based work is needed to protect workers’ rights in a changing world of work. It is important that workers’ rights are not sidelined by technological developments and employers’ innovation, says SAK lawyer Paula Ilveskivi.

She is participating in the negotiations on the agreement concerning the status and rights of platform workers as a representative of Finnish workers.

Platform-based work has significantly challenged the position, security and fundamental rights of workers, says Ilveskivi.

Aim: A binding international convention

According to Ilveskivi, the negotiation process is proving to be quite challenging. During the first week of the conference, discussions focused on whether the goal of the negotiations should be a binding international convention and a complementary recommendation—or just a recommendation. After that, progress on provisions concerning the definitions in the agreement has been historically slow.

—One week has already passed, and we are still at the very beginning. It’s clear that going through the entire proposal during the remaining days would be a miracle. The work and negotiations will therefore continue next year. The topic has turned out to be much more difficult than expected, Ilveskivi laments.

She stresses the importance of making as much progress as possible this year so that the 2026 conference can adopt this important convention and recommendation.

—Platform-based work has significantly challenged the position, security and fundamental rights of workers, says Ilveskivi.

Platform giants strongly represented

Ilveskivi notes that the direction of the negotiations may also be affected by the strong representation of platform companies in the employers’ group of the committee. The employers’ group chair previously worked for platform giant DoorDash, which acquired Wolt and is currently in the process of buying the UK-based Deliveroo. The Finnish government sent a representative of Wolt as part of the employer delegation. While this is formally in line with the rules, Ilveskivi notes that involving a company representative in the heart of international agreement preparation has not been part of the Finnish labour market model. The issue also raises questions about the image the government and employers are projecting.

—It is astonishing that the government is eager to send a platform company lobbyist to international negotiations about the status of platform workers. But considering the actions of the Orpo-Purra government over the past two years, this seems like a natural continuation of their chosen policies, she says.

In addition to the negotiations on the platform economy, this year’s ILO conference is also expected to adopt a convention on protecting workers from biological hazards. Furthermore, the conference will hold a general discussion on the informal economy.

The ILO’s International Labour Conference is the organisation’s highest decision-making body and the world’s largest event focused on working life. The annual conference adopts conventions, recommendations, and declarations. The ILO creates international labour standards and monitors and supports their implementation by member states.

Read more on ILO’s website

Text: Minna Raitapuro
Pictures:  Pierre Albouy/ILO, SAK

Keywords:

international cooperation Platform economy

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