GENEVA: The United Nations’ labour agency has urged governments and employers to ensure that the benefits generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are shared fairly with workers, warning that policy choices made today will shape the future of work.
Speaking at the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said AI is rapidly transforming workplaces by changing how value is created and how decisions are made.
“Workers everywhere must be able to share the productivity gains generated by AI,” Houngbo said. “Those gains must be distributed fairly through better wages, stronger labour protections and more inclusive growth.”
The conference, which brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers from the ILO’s 187 member states, is being held from June 1 to 12 at the UN headquarters in Geneva.
While concerns about widespread job losses due to AI have dominated public debate in recent years, Houngbo noted that most major economic institutions, including the European Central Bank, have so far found only limited effects on employment.
He stressed that the future of work would not be determined by technology alone but by the policies and institutions that govern its use.
“The choices we make today will determine whether AI broadens opportunity and shared prosperity or deepens inequality and insecurity,” he said.
Houngbo called for greater investment in skills development, stronger labour and social protections, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and respect for fundamental rights at work.
The conference is also expected to advance negotiations on a new international treaty for workers on digital platforms, aimed at addressing gaps in labour protections and improving conditions for millions of gig economy workers worldwide.
