More than 150 policymakers, statisticians, social partners, platform operators, and researchers from over 20 countries gathered in Singapore on 29 September for the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work. Hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the conference aimed to facilitate global knowledge exchange, address data gaps, and drive action in the rapidly evolving platform economy.
The dialogue focused on establishing trusted and harmonized international statistical frameworks for digital platform employment (DPE), which are critical for evidence-based policies that protect workers and support economic growth. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the conference sought to generate better data, strengthen legal protections, and create policies that promote opportunities across the platform economy.
Despite its rapid growth, digital platform work remains underrepresented in labor force data due to the lack of internationally agreed statistical standards and the diversity of activities it encompasses, from transport and delivery to professional services. This data gap complicates assessments of platform work’s impact on incomes, work arrangements, and socio-economic outcomes, potentially leaving some workers outside existing employment and social protection frameworks.
Robust and consistent data is essential for governments to design policies that safeguard workers’ rights while supporting higher-skilled freelancers and professionals. Accurate measurements can inform areas such as workplace injury compensation, retirement planning, housing, and career mobility initiatives, ensuring that both lower-income and higher-skilled platform workers are adequately represented. Standardized data also supports cross-border regulation, employer accountability, and the integration of digital services into labor mobility and trade frameworks.
Singapore has been a pioneer in this field, conducting annual national surveys on platform work. These efforts, along with tripartite collaboration, were instrumental in introducing the Platform Workers Act, which strengthens protection and representation for platform workers. In 2023, the MOM and ILO produced a working paper highlighting measurement challenges and the need for standardized concepts and methods, which led to the formation of an expert group on digital platform work and co-hosting of the Global Dialogue.
MOM Permanent Secretary Ng Chee Khern emphasized the importance of keeping international measurement standards up to date with the rapid growth of digital platform employment. He noted that tracking higher-skilled roles, not just lower-income segments, is critical for timely policymaking. ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlighted that standardized international data is necessary to uphold workers’ rights, extend social protections, and maximize the economic potential of platform work.
Through cross-border dialogue, tripartite engagement, and multilateral cooperation, the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work is laying the foundation for stronger international measurement standards. The discussions aim to ensure that platform workers are visible, valued, and fairly represented, while also setting the stage for the presentation of these standards at the 22nd International Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2028.
