Ghana has begun a national dialogue on how to extend labour protections to workers in the rapidly expanding platform economy, following the adoption of a new International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention dedicated to decent work in the sector.
The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment convened government agencies, trade unions, employers’ associations and ILO representatives for a high-level workshop on August 25 to discuss the implementation and possible ratification of the ILO Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, 2026 ( No. 193).
The development is expected to put more focus on how businesses using digital platforms engage workers, particularly in ride-hailing and delivery services.
At the centre of the discussions is how Ghana can integrate platform workers into existing labour protections while preserving the innovation and employment opportunities created by digital business models.
Opening the workshop, Chief Director of the Ministry, Hamidu Adakurugu, said digital technologies were changing how businesses operate and how people find, perform and earn from work.
“Digital technologies are transforming not only how businesses operate, but also how people find work, perform work and earn their livelihoods,” he said.
While acknowledging the employment and innovation opportunities created by the platform economy, Adakurugu said its expansion also raised questions around workers’ rights, social protection and working conditions.
The policy discussion could therefore have implications for businesses that rely on digital platforms to organise services and connect customers with workers, as government considers how existing labour protections should apply to these emerging forms of work.
The workshop is expected to serve as the starting point for a broader national conversation involving government, employers and labour groups. The Ministry indicated that sustained social dialogue among the three groups would be important in determining how Ghana responds to the changing nature of work.
The issue also places social protection at the centre of the policy debate. As digital platforms reshape the relationship between businesses and workers, policymakers are being pushed to consider how workers operating within these models can access appropriate protections while the sector continues to develop.
The discussions follow the ILO’s adoption of Convention No. 193, which provides an international framework for addressing decent work in the platform economy. Ghana’s workshop focused on what would be required for implementation and future ratification of the convention.
Adakurugu said the objective should be to ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of workers’ welfare.
“Our objective should ultimately be to ensure that technological advancement and innovation go hand in hand with fairness, dignity, protection and opportunity for all,” he said.
The broader national dialogue will now focus on how Ghana can apply the new labour standard and consider the ratification of Convention No. 193, with implications for platform workers and businesses operating in the digital economy.
