Policy Brief

Fair Work in the Platform Economy and AI Supply Chain

Research has provided strong evidence of how digital labour platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping the future of work. The International Labor Organization counted an increase in digital labour platforms from 142 to 777 in the decade of 2010–2020. Platform work is a source of livelihood for millions of workers worldwide; AI has also been seen as a transformative technology capable of boosting productivity and improving the labour process in a wide variety of economic sectors. But neither is without concerns. Digital labour platforms can facilitate precarious arrangements with low and insecure pay, poor and unsafe working conditions, inaccessible and unreasonable contracts, unfair and non-transparent management systems, and a lack of representation. AI at work also brings a risk of job displacement and the demand for new skills. These subjects have been part of G20 agendas related to sustainable growth, employment, and the digital economy. This policy brief presents specific and actionable recommendations drawn from evidence gathered over five years by the Fairwork project. The project evaluates fairness in digital labour platforms and the AI supply chain, and engages with companies, workers, and policymakers. The policy brief addresses critical topics linked to SDG 8: “Employment, decent work for all, and social protection”. The proposal lists recommendations to promote a more inclusive and equal digital transformation in labour relations and processes in digital labour platforms and the AI supply chain, covering challenges related to pay, conditions, contracts, management (including equity and inclusion), and representation.

6 Nov 2025

Task Force

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence (AI)digital labourgig economyplatform work

Author/s

Mark Graham
Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
(United Kingdom)
Funda Ustek Spilda
King’s College London
(United Kingdom)
Jonas CL Valente
Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
(United Kingdom)
Wesley Rosslyn-Smith
University of Pretoria
(South Africa)
Caroline Omware
Qhala
(Kenya)
Alessio Bertolini
Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
(United Kingdom)
Janaki Srinivasan
Oxford Internet Institute & Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford
(United Kingdom)
Tobias Kuttler
WZB Berlin Social Center
(Germany)
Balaji Parthasarathy
International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore)
(India)
Julice Salvagni
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
(Brazil)
Rafael Grohmann
University of Toronto
(Canada)
Veena Dubal
University of California Irvine
(United States of America)
Patrick Feuerstein
WZB Berlin Social Center
(Germany)
Nagla Rizk
School of Business of the American University in Cairo
(Egypt)
Pia Garavaglia
University of Buenos Aires
(Argentina)
Kathryn Wells
Groundwork Collaborative
(United States of America)
Luisa de Vita
La Sapienza University of Rome
(Italy)