Unpacking the ILO Convention 193 on Platform Economy: A conversation with Monica Tepfer of the ITUC
30 Jul 2026
How can international law ensure that technology serves workers rather than controls them?
In the latest episode of the ICA Global Office’s Legal Interviews series, Santosh Kumar, ICA Director of Legislation, speaks with Monica Tepfer, Legal Officer and Project Coordinator in the Legal and Human Rights Department of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Their conversation unpacks the newly adopted ILO Convention concerning Decent Work in the Platform Economy, 2026 (No. 193)—the first international labour standard devoted specifically to work mediated through digital platforms. Adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2026, the Convention establishes a global framework for protecting platform workers while recognising the opportunities created by technological innovation and new business models.
Drawing on her involvement in the international standard-setting process and the work of trade unions and workers’ organisations worldwide, Monica explains why the Convention matters and how it addresses some of the most urgent questions arising in the platform economy. These include the correct determination of employment status, freedom of association and collective bargaining, remuneration, social security, occupational safety and health, data protection, algorithmic management, and safeguards against unfair suspension, deactivation or termination. The Convention covers both location-based and online platform work, including workers who are not classified as employees.
The discussion also explores the Convention’s particular relevance to cooperatives. Worker-owned and democratically governed platforms demonstrate that digital technology can be organised around participation, shared ownership and decent work—not only investor control. Translating the Convention into national law, public policy, collective agreements and workplace practice will therefore require the active engagement of cooperatives, trade unions and workers’ organisations.
The episode also recognises CICOPA, the ICA’s sectoral organisation for industrial, artisanal and service cooperatives, and its work to strengthen worker and platform cooperatives and ensure that the cooperative voice is represented in debates on the future of work.
Listen to the episode, share your feedback, and tell us who you would like to hear from next!
This episode has been produced under the ICA-EU Partnership (2024–2028), also known as #coops4dev🌍, a five-year international cooperative development programme co-funded by the European Union, aimed at strengthening the ICA network and positioning cooperatives as key actors in international development.
