The decent work framework has been persistently undermined by corporations that provide platform-based services, are driven by algorithms or have data collection and aggregation as the primary business service. The business model of platform-based corporations has depended on the ability to circumvent labour laws and invent a subclass of “independent contractors” or other non compliant labour arrangements. “Platform work” is expanding to the delivery of public services, including in the health and care sector.

The right to social protection is also being undermined by algorithmic decision making. Workers must have the right to access all data that is held for them, about them or used to make decisions that impact on their working conditions and their access to social protection. These rights must apply to all workers, not only workers engaged by labour hire platforms. The instruments should avoid replicating the recently adopted EU directive which creates the right to data information for only one class of worker.