Brazil's Gig Economy Faces New ILO Convention on Platform Workers

The International Labour Organization adopted Convention No. 193 on decent work in the platform economy, and Brazil voted in favour of the treaty. The convention obliges member states to guarantee platform workers fundamental labour rights, including freedom of association, collective bargaining, non‑discrimination and safe working conditions. In Brazil, the ruling has prompted the Ministry of Labour and the Public Defender’s Office to file briefs in pending Supreme Court cases involving Uber and Rappi, and the Court has deferred judgment until at least the second half of 2026. While the convention does not automatically become law, it signals a shift in how platform work may be regulated.

At the same time, Brazil’s gig sector is expanding rapidly. National household survey data show platform‑based workers grew from about 1.3 million in 2022 to 1.7 million in 2024 – a 25 % rise – now representing roughly 1.9 % of private‑sector employees. Growth is strongest in the Central‑West and North regions and extends beyond rides and deliveries to electricians, cleaners, carpenters and other service providers. Yet most gig workers remain informal (71 % versus 44 % for other private‑sector workers) and a minority contribute to social security (36 % versus 62 %). The expansion has sparked debate over job security, benefits and the need for new labour protections.