Africa and Asia-Pacific trade unions shape a fair digital future

South Africa, Johannesburg (ILO News) - Held under the International Labour Organization Worker's Department (ACTRAV) - All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) South-South Cooperation Framework, trade union leaders from Africa and Asia-Pacific met in Johannesburg from 20 - 22 July 2026 to strengthen regional cooperation and develop practical strategies to ensure that digital transformation advances decent work, protects workers' rights and promotes inclusive economic growth.

The conference, "Social Dialogue in the Age of Digital Acceleration," brought together representatives from 13 countries to exchange experiences, build institutional capacity and identify common approaches to addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digital labour platforms and other emerging technologies.

Opening the conference, ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for Eastern and Southern Africa, Officer In Charge, Ms Maria Payet, reminded participants that digital transformation was already reshaping labour markets and posed a fundamental question:

"The real question is how we ensure that this transformation contributes to decent work, social justice and shared prosperity, rather than increasing inequality, exclusion and insecurity."

Calling for stronger solidarity among trade unions across Africa and the Asia-Pacific, COSATU President Zingiswa Losi, said that workers' organizations must work together to respond to the cross-border nature of digital transformation. She noted that because digital capital operates across national boundaries, trade union cooperation must be equally global to ensure that workers' rights and decent work remain at the centre of technological change. Welcoming delegates on behalf of organised labour in South Africa, she expressed South Africa's pride in hosting the conference and reaffirmed the importance of regional solidarity in shaping a fair digital future.

In his keynote address, ACTRAV Director Mr Oliver Röpke highlighted "the speed of technological change may be unprecedented, but the values that guide us remain unchanged: social justice, solidarity, democracy, human dignity and decent work. As digital transformation accelerates, our response cannot be less dialogue, less participation or less democracy. On the contrary, we need more social dialogue, stronger institutions and more effective worker representation.'

Throughout the three-day meeting, participants explored how social dialogue could help governments, employers and workers anticipate change, strengthen labour market institutions and develop balanced policies that supported both innovation and workers' rights.

Participants recognised that while digital technologies had created new opportunities for innovation, productivity and economic development, it has also reshaped employment relationships and raised pressing concerns around job security, platform work, skills development, algorithmic management, data protection and equality.

The conference also highlighted the growing importance of ensuring that workers and their representative organizations played an active role in shaping policies on AI, digital governance, collective bargaining and skills development.

Although countries across Africa and Asia-Pacific differed in their levels of technological development, participants found that many faced similar challenges in managing the digital transition. The exchange of experiences enabled trade union leaders to identify practical approaches that could be adapted across regions while strengthening South-South collaboration.

By bringing together trade union leaders from two regions facing common challenges, the conference strengthened partnerships and laid the foundation for continued collaboration to ensure that the digital transformation of work delivered benefits for all workers.

The conference concluded with a shared commitment to translate international labour standards into action by strengthening trade union engagement in digital governance, collective bargaining and policy dialogue. Participants agreed that effective implementation of the new international standard on Convention 193 on decent work in the platform economy would depend on sustained advocacy, stronger evidence, and meaningful worker representation in shaping digital transformation.

Reinforcing the longstanding partnership between Africa and Asia-Pacific, regions that are home to the world's largest and youngest labour markets, the conference underscored that by working together, trade unions can help ensure that the future of work is defined by inclusion, social justice and decent work for all.