Uber’s exit: What ILO Convention 193 says for platform economy - Businessday NG

Uber’s exit from Nigeria has renewed attention on the rights and welfare of ride-hailing drivers, with the recently adopted International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 193 setting out new global standards for decent work in the platform economy.

Convention No. 193 (C193) is the first binding global standard written for the platform economy, covering digital labour platforms and workers, whether they are called employees, partners or independent contractors.

Adopted in June 2026, C193 comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s economy, where drivers face rising operating costs, questions over earnings and commissions, and limited protection against deactivation from digital platforms.

In a statement issued by the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) following Uber Technologies’ decision to wind down ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, the union said the exit goes beyond a business decision, highlighting the need for stronger labour protections for workers in the platform economy.

Read also: AUATON condemns Uber’s unprofessional exit, warns Bolt, inDrive over exploitative model