ILO Events

The UN Secretary-General's Call to Action on Extreme Heat brings together the diverse expertise and perspectives of ten specialized UN entities (FAO, ILO, OCHA, UNDRR, UNEP, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, WHO, WMO) in a first-of-its-kind joint product, underscoring the multi-sectoral impacts of extreme heat. Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere. Billions of people around the world are wilting under increasingly severe heatwaves driven largely by a fossil-fuel charged, human-induced climate crisis. Extreme heat is tearing through economies, widening inequalities, undermining the Sustainable Development Goals, and killing people. The Call for Action calls for an urgent and concerted effort to enhance international cooperation to address extreme heat in four critical areas:  Caring for the vulnerable - Protecting workers - Boosting resilience of economies and societies using data and science - Limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C by phasing out fossil fuels and scaling up investment in renewable energy.

Ten years ago, in December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day as to emphasize the critical importance of equipping young people with essential skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. To celebrate this milestone, the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the United Nations Youth Office are convening a virtual panel discussion.

Join us for a captivating journey through the history and transformation of Brazil’s labour inspectorate. Discover how this vital institution has adapted over time to tackle the challenges of labour market non-compliance. Dive into an analysis of Brazil’s unique approach to labour inspection, as we compare it with the established ‘models of inspection’ and explore its distinctive features. Uncover the criteria for prioritizing sectors for inspection, understand the intricate relationship between inspection activities and the complexities of extended supply chains, and learn about the approaches to engage hard-to-reach populations. Drawing on his wealth of practical experience, Thiago Laporte will share innovative strategies in the field of labour inspection. From Theory to Practice Webinars provide a platform for experts to share insights on the practical challenges and successes on labour compliance and enforcement across different jurisdictions. These seminars serve as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world application with the spirit to exchange ideas and learn from peers about this complex field of labour regulation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic management systems are increasingly used in recruitment, performance evaluation and work discipline. Their use in the world of work has important implications on the quality of existing jobs and working conditions, including on fundamental rights. This talk will address some of these issues and reflect on how collective bargaining and social dialogue can be used to address some of the concerns.

This session will discuss the recent study the IMF titled Gen-AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work. The paper suggests that advanced economies should experience the benefits and pitfalls of AI sooner than emerging market and developing economies, largely due to their employment structure focused on cognitive-intensive roles. It also observes some consistent patterns concerning AI exposure, with women and college-educated individuals more exposed but also better poised to reap AI benefits, and older workers potentially less able to adapt to the new technology. The authors suggest that labor income inequality may increase if the complementarity between AI and high-income workers is strong, while capital returns might increase wealth inequality. However, they also observe that if productivity gains are sufficiently large, income levels could surge for most workers. They propose that advanced economies and more developed emerging markets should focus on upgrading regulatory frameworks and supporting labor reallocation, while safeguarding those adversely affected. On the other hand, they suggest that emerging market and developing economies should prioritize developing digital infrastructure and digital skills. The session will consist of the presentation of the paper and a follow up discussion, including questions from the audience. Authors: Mauro Cazzaniga, Florence Jaumotte, Longji Li, Giovanni Melina, Augustus J. Panton, Carlo Pizzinelli, Emma Rockall, and Marina M. Tavares Link to paper: IMF SDN AI

Presentation of the project strategy and objectives followed by panel discussions on responsible business conduct and addressing the vulnerabilities to child labour in the coffee supply chain.

Celebrating MSMEs Day 2024, this event brings together global experts to explore “Human-Centered Impact: Advancing the UN SDGs through MSMEs”. This hybrid event will discuss the global impact of MSMEs for economic growth and social justice, with a special focus on entrepreneurs, young workers and women in business. This is a collaboration between ILO’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Branch, International Organization of Employers (IOE), International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

This ILO workshop brings together global experts to explore the drivers of inequality and identify crucial policy actions to create fairer societies for all. Economic inequality remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern societies, having far-reaching implications for social cohesion, access to opportunities, and overall well-being. It perpetuates a cycle of poverty and social exclusion, creating barriers to equal opportunities and upward mobility. Therefore, addressing economic inequalities is an essential aspect of pursuing social justice. In September 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a global communication campaign called “This Way to Social Justice”, aiming at intensifying efforts to address inequalities in the world of work. This workshop aims to further understand the drivers of economic inequality, assess the depth and breadth of inequality across countries and finally identify crucial policy actions to pave the way towards fairer societies for all.

In this webinar, moderated by Janine Berg, ILO senior economist and Pawel Gmyrek, ILO senior researcher, Professor Daron Acemoglu presents a range of future scenarios of how AI might reshape the work landscape by 2030. This webinar is part of the ITU's AI for Good Initiative. The goal of AI for Good is to identify practical applications of AI to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and scale those solutions for global impact. It is the leading action-oriented, global, and inclusive United Nations platform on AI. AI for Good is organized by ITU in partnership with 40 UN Sister Agencies and co-convened with Switzerland.

The International Labour Organization will hold its 112th annual International Labour Conference in Geneva from 3–14 June 2024. Worker, employer and government delegates from the ILO's 187 Member States will tackle a wide range of issues, including: a standard-setting discussion on protection against biological hazards, a recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of fundamental principles and rights at work and a general discussion on decent work and the care economy. The Conference will also elect members of the Governing Body for the 2024-27 term of office