LABOR

Digital platforms. On February 23, the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a report entitled “World Employment and Social Outlook 2021,” which analyzes the growth of digital platforms and their impact on the transformation of the world of work. The objective is that these types of platforms “are in a better position to offer decent work opportunities, promote the growth of sustainable companies, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.” It is expected that in the coming months, the agency spaces for intersectoral dialogue are fostered (with representatives of governments, unions and companies) to “ensure that the opportunities presented by digital work platforms are taken advantage of, and the challenges they pose are addressed.”

First, the ILO highlights the opening of new possibilities offered by digital platforms for people who are left out of conventional labor markets, as well as the possibility for companies to access a broader and more diverse workforce base. In contrast, they express concern about the problems that arise around these new media, particularly referring to working conditions: regularity of work and income, the impossibility of enjoying the rights to social protection, freedom of association and collective bargaining, the unpredictability of working hours, among others.

For this reason, the ILO presents a series of recommendations for international labor regulations that ensure that workers’ rights are respected, among which the following stand out: the need for coherent and coordinated policies to ensure that they offer decent work opportunities and promote the growth of sustainable companies; the importance of dialogue and coordination at the international level to achieve regulatory security between the different jurisdictions in which digital work platforms operate; the correct classification of the labor situation of workers; transparency and accountability of workers and employers; the enjoyment of the right to collective bargaining; access to social security benefits; and workers’ access to courts of local jurisdiction, if necessary.

Next steps

Although this report is not binding, it is expected that the ILO recommendations will be taken into account by governments, companies and workers’ representatives to ensure the implementation of effective and inclusive regulation.