Why Human Rights Watch Calls for Strong Global Rules to Protect Gig Workers

Human Rights Watch calls for strong global rules to protect gig workers, warning that app-based work keeps expanding while basic safeguards stay thin. The group says platform companies still control pay, access to jobs, and suspensions, yet many workers sit outside standard labour rights. Human Rights Watch says global rules to protect gig workers must cover wages, social security, safety, and fair treatment under algorithms. 

Understanding Why Human Rights Watch Is Pushing for Global Gig Worker Protections

Human Rights Watch has taken a clear line: platform work cannot keep operating in a grey zone. The organisation points to a simple pattern across markets, gig workers carry risks that employers traditionally carried. And platforms still keep strong control over work rules, pricing, and performance scoring. That mix creates power without responsibility, which is the hard part.

Human Rights Watch also stresses that patchwork national rules leave workers stranded when companies operate across borders. A driver or courier can face the same app logic in multiple countries, but protections change at each border. It sounds normal on paper, it hits differently on the street.

The Rapid Growth of the Gig Economy and Its Hidden Vulnerabilities

Platform work now covers ride-hailing, food delivery, home services, and online tasks. The appeal is speed and flexibility, and many workers do join willingly. But the risks sit quietly in the background: expenses, injuries, unpaid waiting time, sudden account blocks. That last one scares people, even if they do not say it aloud.

Hidden vulnerability also shows up in how work is “managed”. Ratings, acceptance rates, and automated flags decide income in real time. And many workers struggle to challenge decisions because there is no proper human review. That feels like a system designed to move fast, not fair.

Read more: Gig Workers’ Rights: Challenges and Solutions

Key Challenges Faced by Gig Workers Worldwide

Several problems repeat across cities and sectors, even when local laws differ. And yes, it looks repetitive because it is.

• Worker classification fights: Many platforms treat workers as independent contractors, which limits access to minimum wage rules, paid leave, and severance. Not a small detail.
• Pay uncertainty: Earnings can shift day to day due to demand, incentives, and penalties. Workers often absorb fuel, repairs, and phone data costs.
• Account deactivation: Suspensions can happen quickly, sometimes triggered by automated systems or customer complaints. Appeals can be slow or unclear.
• Safety risks: Road crashes, assault risks, and long hours show up in delivery and transport work. Some workers keep going even when sick. That is the ugly truth.
• Lack of social protection: Health coverage, injury support, and pensions often remain out of reach, especially for full-time gig workers.

What Human Rights Watch Wants Governments and Platforms to Change

Human Rights Watch is urging rules that lock in minimum standards, not optional “good practices”. The demands focus on pay floors, fair terms, and social protection that travels with the worker.

Key asks highlighted in rights discussions include:

• Clear standards on fair pay, including payment for waiting time and work-related costs.
• Social security access tied to the work itself, not the label used by the platform.
• Due process before suspension or termination, plus quick and transparent appeals.
• Rules on algorithmic accountability, including explanations for automated decisions. That is overdue.

Platforms may say flexibility will suffer. Human Rights Watch argues basic rights do not cancel flexibility. It is not complicated, yet it gets treated like rocket science.

The Role of the International Labour Organization in Setting Global Standards

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the main UN body that sets international labour standards. That matters because an ILO instrument, once adopted, becomes a reference point for national laws and enforcement. It also gives unions and worker groups a stronger foothold in negotiations. And companies notice that, even if they pretend not to.

Human Rights Watch is pressing for language that avoids loopholes. Broad phrases that defer everything to “national practice” can weaken the entire point of a global standard. A global rule that allows easy escape is not really a rule. That is the blunt view.

How Different Countries Are Responding to Gig Worker Rights

Different regions are trying different routes. Some focus on reclassification, others push transparency, and some lean on social security reforms. Results are mixed, and politics gets involved quickly.

Region	Typical policy direction	Practical effect on gig workers
European jurisdictions	More scrutiny on worker status and algorithm practices	Higher chance of employee-like protections in some cases
United States	Ongoing legal and political contest over classification	Rules can shift by state and sector, creating uncertainty
India and other large markets	Court cases, state-level welfare moves, and platform guidelines	Some progress on welfare schemes, patchy enforcement

The big issue is consistency. A worker can see strong protections in one city and almost none in another. It looks unfair because it is.

How Policymakers and Businesses Can Support Fair and Safe Gig Work

Governments can move faster with simple steps that do not need endless committees.

• Set minimum pay standards that account for costs like fuel and maintenance.
• Require written, plain-language contracts with clear dispute pathways.
• Mandate transparency on deactivation decisions and rating systems.
• Expand worker access to health coverage and injury support through portable benefits.

Businesses that use gig labour can also act by choosing platforms with stronger worker protections and insisting on safety training. It is procurement, not charity. Some companies will resist, some will quietly adapt.

Why Strong Global Rules Matter for the Future of Work

Gig work is no longer a side hustle category only. It is becoming a core income for many households. Without stronger rules, the future of work can tilt toward insecure pay and weak safety nets. That pressure does not stay limited to gig workers, it spreads.

Global standards also create clearer expectations for responsible platforms. Investors, regulators, and customers then have a benchmark to judge behaviour. And it makes enforcement less of a guessing game. Still, getting everyone to agree is another story.

FAQs

1) What does Human Rights Watch say about gig worker rights in platform-based jobs?

Human Rights Watch says gig worker rights need global rules covering pay, safety, social security, and fair account decisions.

2) Why are global standards discussed at the International Labour Organization important?

ILO standards guide national laws and enforcement, and they set a common baseline across countries with cross-border platforms.

3) What is the biggest daily risk gig workers report in many markets?

Many gig workers cite sudden deactivation and unstable earnings as major risks, along with safety issues during long shifts.

4) Can platforms keep flexibility while following stronger worker protection rules?

Stronger rules can still allow flexible schedules, but they require clear pay floors, transparent penalties, and fair appeals.

5) What can governments do quickly to protect gig workers without waiting years?

Governments can mandate pay clarity, due process for suspensions, portable benefits, and audits of algorithmic management systems.

Disclaimer: Stay informed on human rights and the real stories behind laws and global decisions. Follow updates on labour rights and everyday workplace realities. Learn about the experiences of migrant workers, and explore thoughtful conversations on work-life balance and fair, humane ways of working.