Executive Summary
The Swiss Federal Council appointed the tripartite delegation to the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) on 6 May 2026, which will take place from 1 to 12 June 2026 in Geneva. Switzerland will engage in three priority areas: decent work in the platform economy, gender equality in the workplace, and social dialogue and collective agreements. The government delegation will be led by Jérôme Cosandey (Seco), the employer side by Blaise Matthey, and the worker side by Gabriela Medici (SGB).
Persons
- Jérôme Cosandey (Head of Labour Directorate, Seco; Head of Government Delegation)
- Blaise Matthey (Special Advisor for Labour Affairs, FER; Head of Employer Delegation)
- Gabriela Medici (Co-Head of SGB Secretariat; Head of Worker Delegation)
Topics
- International Labour Conference (ILC)
- Platform economy and digital work
- Gender equality
- Social dialogue and collective agreements
Clarus Lead
Switzerland's positioning on the platform economy signals a regulatory strategy that demands equal worker protection on digital work platforms. This is timely, as the International Labour Organization is pursuing binding standard-setting in this sector for the first time – a signal for future national legislation. Switzerland's emphasis on collective agreements as an instrument for establishing worker protection underscores the role of social partnership in a fragmented labour market.
Detailed Summary
Switzerland is pursuing a three-tier agenda approach at the ILC meeting. On the core issue of the platform economy, the delegation will seek an international convention that acknowledges the heterogeneity of digital business models while simultaneously demanding a uniform level of protection for platform workers – comparable to the status of traditional employees. This addresses the protection gap between employees and freelancers in digital markets.
On gender equality, Switzerland will support a transformative agenda pursuing four concrete objectives: labour market access for women, wage equality, access to social protection, and combating structural inequalities. Switzerland plans to contribute its experience in these areas.
In the third priority area of social dialogue, Switzerland will emphasize the importance of collective labour agreements (CLA) as a mechanism for wage-setting and regulating working conditions – a model historically established in Switzerland and intended to serve as best practice for international discussions.
Key Messages
- Switzerland advocates for an international regulatory framework for decent work on digital platforms with uniform worker protection
- Gender equality is anchored as a transformative agenda with four areas of action
- Collective agreements are positioned as a key instrument for labour market regulation
Critical Questions
Evidence: What data foundation supports Switzerland's demand for equal protection levels for platform workers? Are there studies on protection gaps in the Swiss platform economy?
Conflicts of Interest: How will the positions of the employer and worker delegations be coordinated when both sides have different interests in platform regulation?
Feasibility: How can an international convention on the platform economy account for the diversity of national labour market models without becoming practically non-binding?
Causality: Is it assumed that international standard-setting automatically leads to national legislation, or are additional implementation mechanisms required?
Side Effects: Could strict regulation of platform work lead to a formalization requirement that reduces flexibility for part-time workers?
Source Validity: Is Switzerland's position based on consultations with platform workers themselves, or primarily on the positions of established social partners?
Sources
Primary Source: Switzerland at the International Labour Conference 2026 – news.admin.ch, 06.05.2026
Verification Status: ✓ 06.05.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-check: 06.05.2026