India's abstention on global gig work law draws criticism
India abstained from voting on Convention No. 193, 'Decent Work in the Platform Economy', at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, a treaty designed to provide rights for gig workers globally. This convention extends core protections like minimum pay, on-time payment, occupational safety, and social security to platform workers, regardless of their classification. It also addresses algorithmic management, requiring platforms to disclose automated decisions and provide human oversight. India's abstention, despite its own States legislating on gig workers, is seen as a decision to maintain distance from a treaty that millions of workers awaited, potentially reinforcing the classification fiction for aggregators.
Key Points
- India abstained from voting on ILO Convention No. 193, 'Decent Work in the Platform Economy', a global treaty for gig worker rights.
- The convention aims to provide core protections and address algorithmic management for platform workers.
- India's abstention is criticized for denying a floor of rights to its growing gig workforce, which is projected to reach 2.35 crore by 2029-30.
- The author argues that India's stance allows aggregators to maintain the classification fiction and avoid accountability for algorithmic decisions.
Exam Facts
- Convention: ILO Convention No. 193, 'Decent Work in the Platform Economy'.
- Vote: 406 in favour, 8 against, 36 abstentions (India abstained).
- India's gig workforce: Roughly 7.7 million in 2020-21, projected to reach 2.35 crore by 2029-30.
- India's Labour Codes: Code on Social Security, 2020, defines 'gig worker' and 'platform worker'.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.