ILO Issues Clarification on Draft Study Regarding Philippine TNVS Workers' Conditions
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in the Philippines announced on Friday, February 27, 2026, that a study examining the working conditions of riders and drivers operating on transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) platforms remains under review and has not been officially released. The organization emphasized that no report on this topic has been finalized or published for public use.
Draft Document Under Technical Validation
The ILO clarified that the material referenced in recent media coverage originates from a draft document currently undergoing a rigorous technical validation process. "It is not a published report, not final, not endorsed, and does not represent an official ILO position," the organization stated. This draft has not been cleared for external dissemination, and any presentations or sponsored publications of its content occurred without ILO authorization.
Call for Stakeholder Restraint
The labor organization underscored the necessity for the report to complete a thorough validation to ensure methodological integrity and balanced interpretation before receiving ILO approval. "We call on all stakeholders to refrain from citing incomplete draft material as definitive findings and to respect the integrity of the validation process," the ILO urged. This statement aims to prevent misinformation and uphold the credibility of the eventual official findings.
Background on Media Reports
The clarification follows recent media reports that cited a draft of the "2025 Platform Work Survey: Philippines." These reports claimed that TNVS riders and drivers earn nearly P2,000 more per week than minimum wage earners. Additionally, the draft material suggested that approximately 90 percent of these workers have access to social protection benefits provided by platforms, such as:
- Health insurance
- Workplace injury insurance
- Pension plans
However, the ILO maintains that these figures are preliminary and do not yet constitute official conclusions, highlighting the importance of awaiting the finalized report for accurate data.
