Labour Warns of Revenue Loss in Africa's Platform Economy

During a two-day meeting in Lomé, Togo, ahead of the 114th session of the International Labour Conference scheduled for June 1-14 in Geneva, Switzerland, labour leaders expressed concerns about the unregulated growth of the platform economy in Africa. Victor Ahiuma-Young highlighted the potential revenue loss for governments as a significant portion of the formal sector shifts to the informal economy, particularly through digital platforms.

Akhat Joel Odigi, the General Secretary of ITUC Africa, emphasized that without proper regulation, the shift could weaken labor protections and diminish tax revenues. He noted that robots and artificial intelligence do not pay taxes, which exacerbates the issue.

Eric Manzi, Deputy General Secretary of ITUC, stressed the need for stronger protections for workers in the digital economy, especially as global tensions worsen. The meeting aimed to prepare for Africa's participation in the upcoming International Labour Conference, where leaders are expected to advocate for a robust global framework to protect workers in the evolving digital economy.