By Dr. Martha Theodorou
Why did you, as Director-General, decide to focus your Report to the 114th International Labour Conference on how Artificial intelligence can and should be harnessed for decent work?
This reflection is particularly timely because Artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming how we work, how we produce and how our economies are organized. The question is no longer whether AI will shape the future of work, but whether we can shape AI so that it advances social justice and decent work.
Like previous technological revolutions, AI presents both opportunities and risks. It can boost productivity, improve occupational safety and health, and support workers and enterprises. But without appropriate governance, it could also deepen inequalities, widen skills gaps and undermine fundamental rights at work.
The ILO's priority is to ensure that AI is human centred. That means protecting workers' rights, investing in skills, strengthening social protection and enabling enterprises to innovate. Above all, it means ensuring that governments, employers and workers shape this transition together through social dialogue.
Ultimately, AI should be judged not only by its technological advances, but by whether it creates better jobs, stronger enterprises and builds more inclusive and resilient societies.
The 2026 International Labour Conference adopted the Convention No. 193 on decent work in the platform economy. Why is this Convention so important and how could its implementation affect the world of work today?
Convention No. 193 is a landmark achievement. It is the first international labour standard on decent work in the platform economy.
The Convention recognizes both the opportunities and the challenges of digital labour platforms. It seeks to ensure that platform workers, regardless of their employment status, enjoy fundamental rights at work and appropriate protections, while supporting the creation of decent work opportunities, career and skills development in the platform economy.
Its significance extends beyond platform work. It demonstrates that technological change can be governed in ways that place people at the centre and that innovation and workers' rights can advance together.
The Convention is also an important example of the strength of the ILO's tripartite approach. Through social dialogue, governments, employers and workers reached agreement on a common framework for one of the fastest-changing areas of the labour market. In doing so, they demonstrated that international labour standards continue to provide the foundation for governing new forms of work.
Why was it important for the International Labour Conference to hold a discussion on gender equality in the world of work?
Gender equality lies at the heart of the ILO's mandate and is essential to achieving social justice. While important progress has been made, women continue to face persistent inequalities in labour force participation, pay, career opportunities and access to decent work.
These challenges become even more significant as AI, digitalization, climate change and demographic shifts reshape labour markets. Managed well, these transitions can expand opportunities for women. But without deliberate action, they risk reinforcing existing inequalities.
The International Labour Conference reaffirmed that gender equality must be integrated across employment, labour market, social protection, care, skills and enterprise policies. It also demonstrated the value of social dialogue in building consensus on practical solutions at a time when debates on gender equality have become increasingly polarized.
Advancing gender equality is not only a matter of rights. It is also essential to building stronger economies, more productive labour markets and more resilient societies.
What were the outcomes of the International Labour Conference discussion on social dialogue and how can social dialogue remain effective as labour markets continue to change rapidly?
The International Labour Conference reaffirmed that social dialogue and tripartism remain fundamental to democratic labour governance. They enable governments and employers' and workers' organizations to manage change together, build trust and develop balanced solutions that promote decent work, productivity and social justice.
The conclusions emphasized that effective social dialogue depends on strong labour institutions, representative social partners, respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining, and a commitment to good faith.
As labour markets are transformed by AI, climate change, demographic trends and economic uncertainty, social dialogue must remain inclusive, timely and focused on practical outcomes. The Conference also strengthened the ILO's mandate to support Member States through standards, capacity-building, research and development cooperation.
Institutions such as the Economic and Social Council of Greece play an essential role in this effort, providing a trusted space for dialogue and helping build consensus around complex reforms.
Youth unemployment and precarious youth work persist. What policies and steps does the ILO recommend policymakers take to ensure that young people can earn a decent living with social protection and stability?
Young people are facing growing uncertainty at a critical stage in their lives. When they struggle to access decent work, it is not only their own prospects that suffer, but also the resilience of our economies and societies.
The causes are well known: economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, slower job creation and rapid technological change. The central challenge is that quality employment is not keeping pace with the number of young people seeking opportunities. Addressing this challenge requires an integrated approach. The ILO therefore advocates an integrated approach that combines employment-centred economic and sectoral policies, support for enterprise development, quality education and apprenticeships, lifelong learning, effective employment services and strong social protection. Gender-responsive policies are essential to ensuring that all young people have access to quality employment opportunities.
Governments, employers and workers all have a role in shaping policies that give young people confidence in their future. Investing in decent work for young people is one of the best investments countries can make in their long-term productivity, resilience and social cohesion.
