As platform work continues to expand, workers are increasingly navigating the combined pressures of technological change, AI-driven automation, and climate-related disruptions. Ensuring that this evolving labour market remains resilient and inclusive requires policies grounded in workers’ experiences and informed by dialogue among key stakeholders. On 8 July 2026, De La Salle University’s Social Development Research Center (DLSU-SDRC), together with the Manila Observatory, convened a Policy Dialogue and Stakeholders’ Forum in Manila to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of platform work in the Philippines. The dialogue drew on research involving more than 100 in-depth interviews with platform workers and industry pioneers across different regions of the country. The findings informed the discussion on social protection and policy measures that could better respond to the realities faced by platform workers in a rapidly changing world of work. 
Gig work is creating new opportunities for flexible employment in Sri Lanka, but workers continue to face challenges around income security, access to protections, bargaining power, and long-term sustainability. This article explores six key realities shaping Sri Lanka’s gig economy and highlights the need for policies and practices that ensure a fairer future for platform workers.