ILO adopts global platform work convention in Geneva
The ILO’s new platform-work convention gives global weight to debates Europe and Belgium are already having over app-based labour.
In 30 seconds
- According to the lead agencies, ILO delegates adopted the convention by 406 votes to 8, with 36 abstentions.
- The ILO conference page says the 114th International Labour Conference met in Geneva from 1 to 12 June 2026.
- The Council of the EU says its 2024 Platform Work Directive covers more than 28 million people working through EU digital labour platforms.
- The Council of the EU says member states have two years after publication to incorporate the EU directive into national law.
The International Labour Organization (UN specialised agency founded in 1919, headquartered in Geneva) sets international labour standards through conventions and recommendations. The International Labour Conference (annual ILO assembly of governments, employers and workers) adopts those standards and broad policy decisions. The Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention (ILO treaty adopted in 2026, according to the lead agencies) is the new global instrument for app-mediated work. Digital labour platforms (services such as ride-hailing, food delivery or online task platforms) use apps and algorithms to match customers and workers. The Council of the European Union (EU institution representing member-state governments) adopted the EU Platform Work Directive in 2024. Pierre-Yves Dermagne (Belgian deputy prime minister and employment minister during Belgium’s 2024 Council presidency) negotiated the EU compromise. Amanda Brown (vice chair of the ILO Workers’ Group) represented trade-union interests at the ILO talks. Roberto Suarez Santos (secretary-general of the International Organisation of Employers) represented employer organisations.
Background
Platform-work regulation has moved from court disputes to formal rulemaking. The Council of the EU says the Commission proposed the EU Platform Work Directive on 9 December 2021, ministers reached a general approach on 12 June 2023, negotiators agreed a text on 8 February 2024 and the Council adopted it on 14 October 2024. Under Belgium’s Council presidency, Pierre-Yves Dermagne said the March 2024 compromise was the first EU legislation to regulate workplace algorithmic management. The World Bank’s 2023 report framed the wider issue as rapid growth paired with weak social protection, especially outside high-income labour markets.
Why now
The trigger is the closing day of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, where the ILO had placed decent work in the platform economy on the 2026 agenda and, according to the lead agencies, delegates adopted the convention on 12 June 2026.
What happens next
Watch which countries ratify the ILO convention, how the ILO publishes the final convention and recommendation texts, and how EU member states transpose the 2024 Platform Work Directive. For Belgium, the practical signal will be federal draft legislation or guidance on employment presumption, platform reporting and algorithmic decisions.
What to do
For Belgian platform workers, the immediate practical takeaway is not an automatic new contract but a stronger legal and political reference point. Workers and unions can invoke the ILO standard in campaigns and consultations; platforms should expect closer scrutiny of classification, pay floors, accident protection and automated account decisions; consumers may eventually see higher compliance costs reflected in app prices.
How we got here
- 2021-12-09
The Council of the EU says the European Commission published its proposal for the Platform Work Directive.
- 2023-06-12
The Council of the EU says employment and social affairs ministers reached a general approach on the EU directive.
- 2024-02-08
The Council of the EU says negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the EU directive.
- 2024-03-11
The Council of the EU confirmed the platform-work compromise under Belgium’s Council presidency.
- 2024-10-14
The Council of the EU adopted the Platform Work Directive.
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