ILO - AI Governance

Overview

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dedicated to advancing social justice and promoting decent work by setting international labour standards. In response to the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the broader digital transformation, the ILO has positioned itself as a key international actor in examining and shaping the governance of AI's impact on the world of work. Its work focuses on ensuring that technological progress serves human well-being, labour rights, and equitable development globally.

AI Governance Mandate

The ILO's mandate for AI governance stems from its constitutional objectives to promote social justice and its commitment to a human-centred future of work. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, adopted in 2019, explicitly recognizes the transformative changes driven by technological innovations and calls for policies that ensure appropriate privacy and personal data protection, and respond to challenges and opportunities in the world of work relating to the digital transformation, including platform work.

Key AI Instruments

• ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019): This foundational document outlines a human-centred agenda for the future of work, emphasizing the need to harness technology's potential for decent work while addressing its risks.
• Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy: Launched in September 2024, this online resource serves as a leading international knowledge hub, providing evidence, analysis, and expert insights on AI's effects on employment, productivity, algorithmic management, digital labour platforms, and workers' data.
• Standard-Setting on Decent Work in the Platform Economy: The ILO Governing Body decided in March 2023 to place a standard-setting item on decent work in the platform economy on the agenda of the 113th (June 2025) and 114th (June 2026) sessions of the International Labour Conference. This initiative aims to develop international labour standards, potentially a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation, to address challenges such as fair remuneration, social protection, and dispute resolution for platform workers.
• "Mind the AI Divide: Shaping a Global Perspective on the Future of Work" Report (2024): Co-authored with the United Nations, this report highlights the critical issue of uneven AI adoption and its implications for global equity, fairness, and social justice, advocating for international cooperation to bridge this divide.

Implementation Mechanisms

The ILO implements its AI governance agenda through a multi-pronged approach:

• Research and Analysis: Conducting in-depth studies and publishing reports on the implications of AI for employment, skills, working conditions, and social protection.
• Social Dialogue: Facilitating discussions and consensus-building among its tripartite constituents (governments, employers' and workers' organizations) to develop balanced and effective policies.
• Standard-Setting: Developing and promoting international labour standards and guidelines to ensure decent work in the context of digital transformation.
• Capacity Building: Supporting member states in developing national policies and strategies to leverage AI's benefits while mitigating its risks for workers.

Member Engagement

Member states engage with the ILO's AI governance activities primarily through the International Labour Conference, where they participate in discussions and negotiations on proposed international labour standards. The tripartite structure ensures that the perspectives of governments, employers, and workers are integrated into policy development. The ILO also engages with its constituents at regional and national levels to foster dialogue and implement tailored solutions.

Current Focus Areas

The ILO's current focus areas in AI governance include:

• Algorithmic Management: Examining the use of algorithms to manage and supervise work, and its implications for workers' rights, autonomy, and well-being.
• Digital Labour Platforms: Addressing the challenges of ensuring decent work, fair wages, social protection, and representation for workers in the platform economy.
• Workers' Personal Data: Providing guidance on the collection, use, and protection of workers' personal data in AI-driven workplaces.
• Skills and Lifelong Learning: Promoting policies to equip workers with the necessary skills for jobs in the AI era and facilitate just transitions.
• Bridging the AI Divide: Advocating for international cooperation to ensure equitable access to AI technologies and benefits, preventing the widening of global inequalities.

Future Directions

The ILO is committed to continuing its leadership in shaping a human-centred future of work in the age of AI. Future directions include finalizing and promoting the adoption of international labour standards on decent work in the platform economy, expanding the research and knowledge dissemination activities of the Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy, and strengthening international collaboration to address the ethical, social, and economic implications of AI for workers worldwide.

Resources