Kathmandu: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted a landmark global convention aimed at safeguarding the rights of millions of workers in the digital platform economy, including ride-hailing, food delivery and freelance services.
The Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy (Convention No. 193), endorsed during the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, establishes the first legally binding international labour standards for digital platform workers.
The convention guarantees key labour rights, including fair wages, safe working conditions, protection from discrimination, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and safeguards against forced and child labour. It also requires governments to protect platform workers from workplace accidents, violence, harassment and unsafe working environments.
The ILO said the convention comes at a crucial time for Nepal, where the digital platform economy is expanding rapidly through services such as Pathao, Foodmandu, eSewa, Khalti and other online platforms.
According to the ILO, Nepal’s growing gig economy offers significant employment opportunities but also highlights the urgent need for stronger legal protections and social security for platform workers.
Industry estimates show Nepal’s gig economy contributes around 7 percent of the country’s GDP, with more than 200,000 people engaged in ride-hailing services alone.
The ILO urged member states, including Nepal, to develop appropriate laws and policies to ensure innovation is matched by decent work, fair labour standards and social protection for digital platform workers.
