During the last week of April, Paraguay hosted a major gathering of researchers from Latin America and Europe focused on the platform economy. The action-research network Fairwork held its regional meeting in the city of Asunción. Fairwork is an international project that evaluates working conditions on digital platforms such as Uber, MUV, Bolt, and PedidosYa, among others, combining research, a specific methodology, and advocacy efforts to promote better labor standards.
Since 2021, TEDIC has been part of this global network, which aims to establish and promote principles of fair work in over 40 countries around the world. In 2022, TEDIC published the first Fairwork report in Paraguay, highlighting a series of challenges faced by workers using ride-hailing and delivery apps. As an active member of the network, TEDIC helped make the regional meeting in Asunción possible, which brought together researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Towards a Fairer Platform Ecosystem in Latin America
The Fairwork regional meeting in Paraguay took place after a two-year pause and was made possible with the support of the Internet Society Foundation. This gathering marked the beginning of a new collaborative phase in the region. Over the next two years, the Fairwork methodology will be applied and adapted in eight Latin American countries, including Paraguay.
Key activities include developing research to improve the collection of statistical data on platform workers, creating a policy-oriented guide for regulators aiming to govern the platform ecosystem, and producing a report on users’ perceptions of digital platform services.
In addition, training programs will be launched for journalists, unions, and policymakers, along with knowledge-sharing spaces where Fairwork’s experience will be made available to strengthen the capacities of various stakeholders working to improve labor conditions in digital environments.
Strengthening Ibero-American collaboration
Taking advantage of the presence of researchers from across the region gathered in one place, a virtual session was also held in collaboration with the Red.es/University of Castilla-La Mancha project from Spain, which focuses on implementing digital rights in the workplace.
During the session, the Spanish network shared their experiences regulating transparency in the use of algorithms and AI systems in Spain, focusing on the Rider Law, the Digital Rights Charter, and coordination between data protection authorities and labor inspectors to ensure compliance, in line with the new EU Platform Work Directive.
Meanwhile, Fairwork researchers presented their country-specific research agendas on the platform economy, identifying opportunities for collaboration between the two networks and sharing lessons learned about digital labor from around the world.
A Regional Declaration on Platform Labor from Latin America
To close the event, an open public session was held to present the Asunción Declaration on Platform Work in Latin America. This document seeks to influence international debates on platform labor, especially during the upcoming 113th session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in June 2025. This session will be key in discussing the possibility of a global framework to guide countries on how to regulate platform-based labor.
The Declaration lists as founding signatories: Fairwork, TEDIC, the Platform Observatory of Peru, International Lawyers Assisting Workers (ILAW), Privacy International, Derechos Digitales, and the Labor Relations Observatory of the Catholic University of Uruguay. It outlines a set of key principles to help build a fairer labor ecosystem for platform workers. Topics include workplace safety and health, algorithmic transparency, effective dispute resolution mechanisms, personal data protection, and fair competition—framed from a Latin American perspective.
The launch of the Declaration not only represents a milestone in regional coordination but also signals the starting point of a new research phase for Fairwork in eight countries in Latin America: Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Over the next two years, platforms from various sectors will be assessed, including ride-hailing, delivery services, and domestic work. The goal is to contribute solid evidence and regional perspectives to the ILO discussions, in hopes that they will result in a Convention and Recommendation ensuring that platform workers can fully enjoy fundamental labor rights and protections.
We invite civil society organizations, unions, researchers, academics, businesses, and governments to endorse the Declaration. You can read the full text and add your signature until March 30th here. Diverse support is crucial to strengthening the global call for better labor conditions in the platform economy, especially in countries across the Global South.
The Fairwork network reaffirms its commitment to collaborative research with a wide range of stakeholders, highlighting the experiences of platform workers and promoting dignified digital labor.
ABC of our community in 2023