Leadership Sensitisation on Decent Work in the Platform Economy

Digital labour platforms are transforming the world of work, but labour protections on these platforms have not always kept pace. As platform work expands in Ghana, ensuring access to social protection, collective representation and decent working conditions is becoming increasingly important.

The rapid growth of digital labour platforms has changed how work is organised, particularly in Ghana’s urban transport sector. Yet the employment status of platform workers remains a central challenge, as they are mostly misclassified as independent contractors, which has limited their access to rights and protections traditionally associated with an employment relationship, thus raising broader questions about how existing labour frameworks respond to these new forms of work.

Against this background, the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU), with the support of FES Ghana, organised a Leadership Sensitisation on Decent Work in the Platform Economy on 5 August 2026 at the Ghana TUC in Accra. The workshop brought together 35 selected leaders from 15 ride-hailing and courier groups from Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi.

The workshop focused on the ILO Decent Work Framework, Ghana’s legal definitions of workers and employment relationships, and ILO Convention 193 on decent work in the platform economy. Participants explored how these standards relate to working conditions and the recognition and protection of platform workers in Ghana.

These discussions come at an important moment as Ghana is currently engaged in the process of revising its Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) in a new Labour Bill that includes provisions addressing the platform economy, including contractual arrangements, social security and the right to form or join a trade union. Participants examined how developments at the international and national levels can contribute to a stronger regulatory framework for the protection of digital labour platform workers.

Beyond the legal framework, the workshop focused on translating knowledge into collective action. Participants discussed how the Riders Network and the wider labour movement could build a coordinated advocacy campaign for Ghana’s ratification of Convention 193. Proposed steps included developing a common position and engaging the Trades Union Congress, employers, Parliament, relevant government ministries and the media.

A central lesson from the discussions was that adopting international labour standards is only a first step. Their impact ultimately depends on effective incorporation into national law and implementation in practice. As Ghana’s platform economy continues to develop, strong worker organisation and effective social dialogue will be essential to ensuring that the new work forms offered in the platform economy are decent work and offer meaningful labour protection.

Key Takeaways and Recommendations:

• Strengthen awareness among platform workers of their rights and emerging national and international labour standards.

• Build a coordinated advocacy campaign for Ghana’s ratification and effective implementation of ILO Convention 193.

• Strengthen the organisation and collective representation of platform workers to increase their participation in shaping the future of platform work.

• Deepen dialogue between trade unions, employers, Parliament and relevant government institutions to advance effective regulation and decent working conditions in the platform economy.