Measures for platform workers sought

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Monday called on the Marcos administration to match its support for a new International Labour Organization (ILO) convention with safeguards for platform workers.

The adoption of ILO Convention No. 193 or “Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026” should come with concrete steps such as its immediate ratification, inclusion of labor safeguards in the European Union-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (EU-PH FTA), and passage of a law for the protection of platform workers.

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza said that the government’s position on international policy and trade agreements should not be different.

“Our government cannot vote for the adoption of ILO Convention No. 193 on one hand, and on the other hand, just accept a Digital Trade Chapter in the EU-PH FTA that is virtually silent on labor rights, algorithmic accountability, and meaningful protections for platform workers,” Mr. Mendoza said.

He further argued that the draft digital trade provisions lack enforceable labor safeguards, and further limit access to source code and algorithms that are essential for the transparency of digital platforms.

He also emphasized that rights under ILO Convention No. 193 will not be effective without accountability and transparency in companies’ algorithmic management.

The TUCP is also proposing the “Platform Workers Protection Act” which aims to prevent misclassification of workers, ensure labor rights and social protection, and enforce transparency and accountability in algorithmic management systems. — Pexcel John Bacon