Worker Protection Begins with Availability of Employment

The debate regarding worker protection in the digital era is increasingly highlighted amid the rapid development of the platform-based economy. In various countries, discussions have emerged on how to provide adequate protection for workers without hampering the growth of the developing business sector.

This issue also became one of the important topics at the 114th International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference. One emerging viewpoint is that sustainable labour protection depends not only on regulation but also on the economy’s ability to continuously create new job opportunities.

In this context, the business community considers the existence of employment itself as the most fundamental form of protection for workers. Without sufficient available jobs, various protection regulations risk not providing maximum benefits because opportunities to work become increasingly limited.

This perspective was also conveyed by the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO). According to the organisation, labour policies need to be designed to provide a sense of security for workers while simultaneously supporting business continuity and investment.

Technological developments have spawned various new types of jobs, including platform-based digital work. This work model offers greater flexibility for some people, but on the other hand, it also raises questions regarding the status of the employment relationship and the appropriate form of protection to be provided.

Because its characteristics differ from conventional jobs, the approach used cannot be uniform. Each country has different economic, social, and regulatory conditions, thus requiring policies that suit its respective needs.

In the discussions of the Platform Economy Committee at the ILO forum, one important agreement that is beginning to surface is that the status of platform workers cannot be determined using the same approach for all countries.

Amid increasingly fierce digital economic competition, various countries are now striving to create a climate capable of encouraging investment, technological innovation, and job creation without neglecting workers’ rights.

Therefore, the discussion regarding digital worker protection is expected to continue evolving over the next few years. As technology changes so rapidly, labour policies are also required to be more adaptive in order to answer the needs of the modern workforce while sustainably maintaining worker welfare.