ILO Urges Enhanced Social Protection, Work Safety for Digital Platform Delivery Workers

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a new report detailing the working conditions of digital platform delivery workers in Cambodia, urging for enhanced social protection, work safety, and clearer classification of their employment status. The report, published on September 2nd, is based on interviews with ride-hailing drivers and goods delivery personnel operating on digital platforms. It found that while workers in this sector have opportunities for growth, they also face challenges related to job security, social protection, and the formation of labor unions. Although more than half of the surveyed workers receive health and social security coverage, injuries related to work are frequent. Goods delivery workers face the highest risks, with one in three reporting having experienced an accident while on duty. Furthermore, these delivery workers are also subject to penalties, including reductions in work assignments, account suspensions, or order cancellations. Ms. Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO's office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, encouraged the establishment of a clearer legal framework that can provide greater certainty for these digital platform workers, thereby promoting economic growth and innovation. "Digital labor platforms are creating significant income-earning opportunities for many Cambodians and can contribute to economic growth and innovation," she stated. However, the report also found that digital platform delivery workers in Cambodia can still earn a decent income. Ride-hailing drivers earn an average of approximately $581 per month, food delivery workers earn an average of about $501, and tuk-tuk drivers earn an average of $477 per month. At a workshop on "Expanding the Scope of Social Security Implementation and Promoting Workers' Integration into the System," held on July 22, 2026, at the Cambodia Grand Hotel, Ms. Helen Kirsch, a technical officer from the ILO, urged consideration of the issues faced by workers in the informal economy, pushing for the organization of legal and social protection systems for them. Meanwhile, Ms. Sovann Vannarath, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour, affirmed that the government is prioritizing the integration of informal economy workers into the formal system and has prepared numerous policies and incentives to encourage their participation. She noted that currently, workers in the informal economy constitute 75% of the country's workforce, and the government aims to reduce this figure to 70% by 2028. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local