Geneva — June 2, 2026 — Opening the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC), ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo urged governments, employers, and workers to place people at the centre of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. He emphasized that the future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by the policies, institutions, and social dialogue that shape its impact.
Drawing on his report A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work, Houngbo outlined a strategic agenda built around four pillars: rights, employment and skills, social protection, and social dialogue. He stressed that productivity gains from AI must be distributed fairly through better wages, stronger labour protections, and inclusive growth.
“The choices we make today will determine whether AI broadens opportunity and shared prosperity or deepens inequality and insecurity,” Houngbo said, highlighting the importance of collective bargaining and AI governance grounded in transparency, accountability, and human oversight.
The conference comes amid global uncertainty, with the ILO warning that a prolonged oil-shock scenario could reduce global hours worked by the equivalent of 14 million full-time jobs in 2026 and 38 million in 2027, with labour income losses reaching up to US$3 trillion by 2027.
Delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States are addressing issues with long-term impacts on the world of work. Key discussions include:
- Setting new international labour standards on decent work in the platform economy.
- Addressing gender equality in labour markets.
- Strengthening social dialogue and tripartism to navigate digital transformation and rising inequalities.
- Reviewing the application of international labour conventions and recommendations.
On the first day, Juan Castillo, Uruguay’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, was elected Conference President, with vice-presidents representing governments, employers, and workers from Bangladesh, the United States, and Argentina.
The 114th International Labour Conference, held in Geneva from June 1–12, 2026, underscores the ILO’s commitment to ensuring that technological change advances decent work, social justice, and inclusive prosperity.
