“The future of work will not be determined by technology alone,” says ILO Director-General

GENEVA (ILO News) - ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo opened the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) with a call to place people at the centre of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, stressing that the future of work will depend not only on technological advances, but on the policies, institutions and social dialogue that shape their impact on people's lives.

"The future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by the policies, institutions and social dialogue that guide it," Houngbo said in his opening address.

Drawing on the findings of his report to the Conference, A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work, the Director-General called for a human-centred approach to AI and highlighted a strategic agenda built around four pillars: rights, employment and skills, social protection and social dialogue.

Houngbo stressed that workers everywhere must be able to benefit from the productivity gains generated by AI. "Those gains must be distributed fairly through better wages, stronger labour protections and more inclusive growth," he said, adding that "collective bargaining will be essential, alongside AI governance grounded in transparency, accountability and human oversight".

"The choices we make today will determine whether AI broadens opportunity and shared prosperity or deepens inequality and insecurity", he emphasized.

Houngbo placed these challenges in the context of a global economy facing growing uncertainty and multiple pressures on jobs and livelihoods.

"We meet at a time of profound uncertainty. The global economy remains fragile and the crisis in the Middle East has emerged as a major source of risk for workers, enterprises and communities," Houngbo said. "Seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, migrant workers in Gulf countries, agricultural workers in southern Lebanon and workers and enterprises across several sectors in Iran are among those most directly affected."

According to the latest estimates from the ILO, under a prolonged oil-shock scenario, global hours worked could fall by the equivalent of 14 million full-time jobs this year and 38 million next year. Labour income losses could reach up to US$3 trillion by 2027, with particularly severe effects in the Arab States and spillover effects across Asia and the Pacific.

The ILO annual conference together brings worker, employer and government delegates from the Organization's 187 Member States to address a wide range of issues that have a long-term impact on the world of work.

The ILC Standard-Setting Committee will undertake the second discussion on decent work in the platform economy, with a view to setting new international labour standards. If adopted, these standards will be the first focusing on the impact of digitalization in the world of work.

The Committee, comprising representatives of governments, employers and workers, will examine the texts of a draft Convention and Recommendation which cover a range of subjects including employment promotion, and protections for digital platform workers. The Committee will also consider draft provisions relating to the use of automated systems used by digital labour platforms.

The General Discussion Committee will address gender equality in the world of work, exploring the structural barriers that continue to limit opportunities for women and the policies needed to ensure that technological, environmental and demographic transitions lead to more equal and inclusive labour markets.

A Recurrent Discussion Committee will focus on social dialogue and tripartism, examining how stronger cooperation between governments, employers and workers can help navigate digital transformation, demographic change and rising inequalities, while reinforcing effective labour market governance and social justice.

The Committee on the Application of Standards will consider the 2026 Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (Report III (A)), which includes the General Report and the observations on the application of ratified Conventions. It will also discuss the 2026 General Survey on Employment and decent work for peace and resilience.

On its first day, the Conference elected Juan Castillo, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Uruguay, as President. H.E. Ambassador Nahida Sobhan of Bangladesh, Kristen Kaufman of the United States and Gerardo Martínez of Argentina were elected as Vice-Presidents representing Governments, Employers and Workers respectively.

The 114th International Labour Conference is being held in Geneva and will run until 12 June 2026.