Working papers
ILO Working paper 100
The platform economy and transformations in the world of work: The case of delivery platform workers in Santiago, Chile
This paper examines the experiences of delivery workers on digital labor platforms in Chile and analyses the implications of the platform business model. It highlights challenges in working conditions and algorithmic management practices, which are...
ILO Working paper 99
Digital labour platforms and national employment policies in China: Studying the case of food delivery platforms
This paper takes the food-delivery platforms as a case study to examine the impact of digital labour platforms on employment and labour market in China. It reviews the recent employment policies in the digital economy including policies of labour...
ILO Working paper 98
Mortality from COVID-19 in the US : Did unions save lives?
This paper combines data from the NVSS with the CPS into a unique dataset to answer the question on whether unions saved lives during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It finds that if the United States had the union density of 35 percent that it had in 1954...
ILO Working Paper 97
A global fund for social protection. Lessons from the diverse experiences of global health, agriculture and climate funds
This study aims to understand the experiences of setting up global funds across the health, climate and agriculture sectors and identify lessons to be learned from them that can guide further thinking about the implementation of a prospective global...
ILO Working paper 96
Generative AI and Jobs: A global analysis of potential effects on job quantity and quality
This study assesses global occupational exposure to Generative AI, particularly GPT-4, finding that its main effect is likely to augment rather than automate jobs. Impacts are expected to be greater in higher-income countries and among women due to...
ILO Working paper 95
Artificial intelligence in human resource management: a challenge for the human-centred agenda?
This paper offers guidance as to when and where the use of AI in HRM should be encouraged, and where it is likely to cause more problems than it solves.
ILO Working paper 94
Who creates jobs with broad skillsets? The crucial role of firms
Using matched firm-level and online job vacancy data from India, this study finds significant heterogeneity in skill requirements across firms within the same occupations. It also shows that more competitive and innovative firms require digital...
ILO Working paper 93
Digital transformation of social security administration and services: A comparative analysis of Australia, Canada, Denmark and France
This report examines the digital transformation of social security administration and services in Australia, Canada, Denmark and France. It compares national approaches, technologies and implementation experiences, highlighting opportunities,...
ILO Working paper 92
Occupational Safety and Health, Frontline Workers, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.
The Report provides an overview of U.S. occupational safety and health and related laws providing protection to workers in the US; traces the effects of the pandemic on workers in the U.S. and reviews the federal agencies’ and states’ responses to...
ILO Working paper 91
Jobs and global supply chains in South-East Asia
South-East Asia has become a key player in global supply chains (GSCs) during recent decades, and the region’s participation in GSCs has had a profound impact on labour markets. The region has become increasingly dependent on GSCs for employment...
ILO Working paper 89
What has been driving work-to-work transitions in the emerging world? – A comparative study of Indonesia and South Africa
This paper examines the shape, prominence and drivers of work-to-work transitions in South Africa and Indonesia – two middle-income countries with similar development levels yet different labour market characteristics.
ILO Working paper 90
OSH and the COVID-19 pandemic: A legal analysis
This study provides an analysis of how occupational safety and health (OSH) regulation responded to the circumstances of key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ILO Working paper 88
The impact of Covid-19 on South African migrant wage workers and the self-employed
When Covid-19 struck the South African government declared some of the strictest lockdowns worldwide. The impact of lockdowns on the working classes was especially severe. Initially many workers were left with no income, leading to warnings that a...
ILO Working paper 87
Effects of digitalization on the human centricity of social security administration and services
This paper examines how digitalization can enhance social security administration while preserving human-centred decision-making. Through 13 case studies, it explores the opportunities and risks of data, automation and AI, emphasizing the importance...
ILO Working paper 86
Negotiations by workers in the informal economy
This paper provides empirical evidence from Africa, Asia and the Americas on negotiations and collective bargaining by workers in the informal economy.
ILO Working paper 85
Ride-hailing versus traditional taxi services: The experiences of taxi drivers in Lebanon
This paper provides insights into the working conditions of platform-based taxi drivers, and engages critically with the development of taxi platforms in Lebanon and shows its dependence on venture capital funds, the “non‑uberized” economy, the...
ILO Working paper 84
Engendering informality statistics: gaps and opportunities
Informality is a dynamic and multidimensional concern that demands gender-sensitive data. In 2018, globally, more than 60% of employment was informal. However, global averages hide that in more countries the share of women in informal employment...
ILO Working paper 83
Labour protests during the pandemic : The case of hospital and retail workers in 90 countries
With a novel methodology searching news events from world’s largest news agencies via the online GDELT project, this report documents protest of key workers against their working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 90 countries.
ILO Working paper 82
Long-term care in the context of population ageing: a rights-based approach to universal coverage
With the acceleration of population ageing, the achieving of healthy ageing is becoming a global imperative and social protection policies and social security systems have an important role to play in this endeavour.
ILO Working paper 81
Key workers in Malaysia during the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian government prioritized health and economic stimulus packages for the sectors considered “key” for the economy and gave little recognition to the workers making contributions to the functioning of daily...