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At the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention No. 193 – "Decent Work in the Platform Economy", the world's first legally binding international treaty on the rights of gig and platform workers. While India's government abstained, its employer and worker representatives voted in favour.

What is ILO Convention No. 193?

Adopted in June 2026, Convention No. 193 establishes a global minimum standard of labour rights for gig and platform workers, irrespective of whether they are classified as employees, independent contractors or platform partners. It seeks to ensure that the rapid expansion of digital platforms is accompanied by fair working conditions and adequate social protection.

The Convention guarantees fair remuneration, timely payment, occupational safety, social security benefits, and protection against unfair labour practices. It also introduces algorithmic transparency, requiring platforms to explain automated decisions related to work allocation, wages, ratings and account deactivation, while ensuring human oversight in important decisions.

Another key feature is that workers must be classified based on the actual nature of their work, rather than contractual labels, to prevent misclassification.

Why did India Abstain?

The Government stated that the Code on Social Security, 2020 already provides a legal framework for gig and platform workers and follows India's policy of ratifying ILO conventions only after domestic laws are fully aligned.

It also cited labour being a Concurrent List subject, allowing States flexibility in framing labour regulations. Further, concerns were raised that mandatory worker reclassification and algorithmic disclosure requirements could increase compliance costs and affect innovation in the platform economy.

India's Gig Economy

India's gig economy has expanded rapidly due to increasing internet penetration, smartphone usage, digital platforms, urban demand for on-demand services and flexible work preferences among young workers.

• According to NITI Aayog, India's gig workforce is projected to increase from 77 lakh (2020–21) to 2.35 crore by 2029–30, accounting for nearly 6.7% of the non-agricultural workforce.

India's Legal Framework

The Code on Social Security, 2020 was among the first national legislations to define gig workers and platform workers. It provides for a Social Security Fund, financed through contributions by aggregators, to support benefits such as life and disability cover, accident insurance, health benefits, maternity benefits and pensions.

However, implementation remains limited as the operational framework and benefit schemes have not yet been fully notified. Some states have taken independent initiatives, with Rajasthan enacting the Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2023, while Karnataka and Telangana have proposed similar welfare mechanisms.

Challenges

Despite rapid growth, gig workers continue to face worker misclassification, lack of minimum wage protection, irregular earnings, weak social security, occupational risks and limited grievance redressal.

The extensive use of opaque algorithms for task allocation, pricing, ratings and account suspension has also raised concerns regarding transparency and accountability.

Way Forward

India needs to operationalise the Social Security Code, strengthen implementation of welfare schemes, improve e-Shram integration and ensure effective aggregator contributions.

A dedicated legal framework for gig workers, greater transparency in algorithm-based decision-making, stronger grievance mechanisms, universal accident insurance and coordination between central and state governments can help balance worker welfare with innovation in the platform economy.

Progressive alignment of domestic laws with the principles of ILO Convention No. 193 would further strengthen labour protection while supporting sustainable growth of India's digital economy.