Breakthrough for gig workers: ILO to develop first global standards | Weekly Update 18 June
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
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Human Rights Watch, Kukmin Ilbo
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has committed to draft the first binding global standards for platform workers, a major step toward addressing systemic abuses in the gig economy. The standards aim to tackle misclassification, low pay, exclusion from social security benefits, and opaque algorithmic management systems.
The standards would represent the first internationally binding framework specifically designed for the gig economy, which accounts for up 12% of the global labour force, with over 400 million workers.
The decision received majority support from ILO member states and worker delegates, though employer delegates and several governments including the US, Switzerland, and India opposed the initiative.
Critical details regarding the standards' scope, specific definitions of covered workers, and enforcement mechanisms remain to be determined. A coalition of 33 workers rights groups warned that narrow definitions could exclude millions of workers and that proposed language might allow national laws to override protections.
The final round of negotiations will take place in 2026, with worker advocacy groups emphasising the importance of broad definitions to ensure comprehensive coverage
In related news, South Korea’s Minimum Wage Commission has decided that platform and gig workers will remain excluded from the country’s 2026 minimum wage protections. The Commission cited insufficient data and called for further research into the scope and working conditions of such workers.
FROM US
Nandita Shivakumar, labour rights researcher & consultant and Apekshita Varshney, founder of HeatWatch
BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS IN FOCUS
SEAFARERS FACE EXPLOITATION, WAGE THEFT AND ABUSE
Investigators from the International Transport Workers’ Federation are sounding the alarm on widespread exploitation in the global shipping industry. During inspections in Vancouver, union officials described the sector as rife with “systemic” violence, wage theft and dangerous working conditions. Many seafarers work long hours in dangerous roles with limited legal protections.
Reports show that the risks are amplified by opaque corporate ownership structures and the use of “flags of convenience”, which allow vessels to operate under countries with weak labour laws. Migrant seafarers are particularly vulnerable, often paying illegal recruitment fees or falling victim to fraudulent job offers. Some end up trapped aboard abandoned ships for months, without pay, support or a way home.
The findings add to growing calls for international action to strengthen oversight and protect the rights of maritime workers worldwide.
MIGRANT FARM WORKERS EXPERIENCE SYSTEMIC ABUSE
Incidents across the USA, Australia and Spain highlight a global pattern of abuse affecting seasonal migrant farm workers in the agricultural sector.
In the USA, a Michigan jury found labour contractor Purpose Point Harvesting guilty of exploiting five Guatemalan workers through forced labour under the H-2A visa scheme. The men endured 19-hour days, passport confiscation and deportation threats. They were awarded USD550,000 in damages.
In Australia, labour inspectors are investigating farms in the Yarra Valley after finding signs of systemic abuse, including failure to pay pension entitlements and unregistered housing for workers. The Labour Hire Authority flagged the industry’s reliance on seasonal migrant labour as a key risk factor.
In Spain, two Moroccan women hired for the strawberry harvest were sent home without medical care, legal protection or income after facing what unions describe as “exploitation and neglect by their employers.” One of the women was five months pregnant, and another was deported mid-cancer treatment. Rights groups say the women were “discarded” by their employers, part of a broader pattern of abuse under Spain’s GECCO seasonal hiring scheme.
TELECOMS UNDER SCRUTINY AMID SURVEILLANCE AND DATA CONTROL FEARS
Concerns over telecom companies’ roles in surveillance and data control are mounting in both Kenya and Lebanon.
Kenya’s leading telecoms provider Safaricom is facing mounting scrutiny after being accused of facilitating the surveillance and arrest of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody earlier this month.
Former Attorney General Justin Muturi accused Safaricom of complicity in state surveillance that led to Ojwang’s arrest. The claims follow a report earlier this year alleging the company enabled the tracking and abduction of government critics. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is investigating Ojwang’s death as a possible extrajudicial killing.
Safaricom has denied any involvement in Ojwang’s arrest. We previously invited them to respond to the allegations of aiding state surveillance and facilitating the abductions of government critics; its full response can be read here.
Meanwhile in Lebanon, policy makers and internet providers are raising the alarm over the proposed introduction of Starlink satellite internet services. Local internet service providers warn that deals with Starlink could violate Lebanon’s data sovereignty laws by routing citizens’ data abroad. Security agencies have already blocked Starlink equipment due to oversight concerns, and watchdogs are calling for full transparency on licensing terms and data use.
AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
Spotlight:
Global Environmental Change
Drawing on data from the Environmental Justice Atlas, researchers found that companies like Shell, Glencore, Repsol and Bayer, the majority of which are based in the Global North, are driving environmental and human rights harms, primarily in the Global South.
The study shows that when multinationals are involved in extractive conflicts, there are more violent events, forced displacements, land dispossessions and other adverse human rights impacts. Researchers also criticised voluntary corporate responsibility initiatives such as the UN Global Compact, arguing that they fail to prevent abuse.
Meanwhile, at the Mining Week 2025 conference, delegates in the Democratic Republic of Congo emphasised putting communities at the centre of mining operations. The summit focused on "local value capture", with financial leaders arguing that true progress requires communities to participate meaningfully in the mining economy.
💬 We invited Shell, Glencore, Repsol and Bayer to respond to the allegations: we received responses from Glencore, Bayer and Repsol. Shell did not respond.
AFRICA
Spotlight:
Solutions for Our Climate
Mozambican civil society group Justiça Ambiental! (JA!) and South Korean youth climate activists are seeking to hold financial institutions accountable for the environmental and social impacts of fossil fuel investments. The groups have filed a landmark lawsuit against the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE). The legal action aims to block public financing of the Coral North Liquefied Natural Gas project in Mozambique.
KEXIM and K-SURE are reportedly considering granting USD1.9b in loans and guarantees for Coral North, after previously granting USD1.8b to twin project Coral South. The plaintiffs argue that the funding jeopardises the environmental rights of both Korean and Mozambican citizens and contributes to irreversible climate harm.
Other news from the region:
AMERICAS
Spotlight:
Reuters, NPR
Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that social media platforms can be held accountable for certain types of illegal content posted by users. While the full scope of the decision is still being determined, six of the 11 justices voted in favour of increasing platform responsibility, potentially allowing fines if companies fail to remove harmful posts. The court is expected to clarify the details of what types of content will trigger platform liability in future sessions.
The ruling could significantly impact major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and Google. Asked by journalists for comment, Meta warned that holding platforms liable without prior notice could make them responsible for “virtually all types of content”. Google said that it supports improving Brazil’s social media laws but stressed the need for clear procedures to avoid legal uncertainty and “indiscriminate content removal”. TikTok and X did not respond.
Meanwhile, Meta has announced plans to automate up to 90% of its internal risk reviews using AI. Critics warn that the shift could increase the risk of harm by automating decisions on safety, misinformation and youth protections.
Other news from the region:
ASIA & PACIFIC
Spotlight:
Korean Transnational Corporations Watch Network
The legislation, introduced by a Democratic Party Representative with support from major trade unions, would require large companies with more than 500 employees or annual revenue exceeding KRW200b (approx. USD150m) to conduct mandatory due diligence across their global supply chains to identify and address potential human rights and environmental violations. Small and medium-sized enterprises would be exempt from the requirements.
Originally introduced in 2023, the revised bill has undergone government review and represents the first major human rights legislation under South Korea’s new government.
Other news from the region:
EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA
Spotlight:
Reuters
The law aims to address the environmental and social impact of fast fashion by introducing penalties for companies that fail to meet specific environmental criteria and banning advertising for ultra-fast fashion brands.
While the bill mainly targets Chinese e-commerce “ultra-fast” fashion platforms like Shein and Temu, it notably spares major European players such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi from the harshest penalties.
Environmental groups have criticised the bill for lacking ambition, pointing out that Shein and Temu represent only a small share of the market, while around 90% of clothing sold in France is produced by companies that remain largely unaffected.
Other news from the region:
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
Spotlight:
Gizmodo
Airbnb is facing coordinated legal action in Ireland, the UK and the USA over allegations it profits from rentals in illegal West Bank settlements. Human rights groups Global Legal Action Network, Sadaka Ireland and Al-Haq claim Airbnb hosts more than 300 listings in settlements deemed illegal under international law.
In a statement to journalists, Airbnb claimed that it complies with all applicable Irish and US laws and has donated profits from West Bank listings to an international nonprofit since 2019.
News from the region:
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