The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said meaningful social dialogue and collective bargaining are essential for helping workers and employers navigate the profound changes being driven by artificial intelligence (AI), climate transition, and platform work.
Speaking at a forum titled Trade Unions in Transformation: Navigating Disruption and Shaping the Future of Work, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities, Oliver Röpke, said disruption has become a defining feature of today’s labour market.
“If disruption has become the new normal, then the capacity to navigate disruption must also become the new normal,” he said.
Röpke noted that this year’s International Labour Conference will address standard-setting on platform work, gender equality, peace and resilience, and AI.
“These are not separate debates. They are part of one larger question: how can workers and their organisations navigate major transformations in the world of work, shape the future of work, protect labour rights, and ensure decent work for all workers, today and tomorrow?” he said.
He stressed that effective social dialogue depends on inclusivity and the protection of fundamental labour rights.
“Its foundations are clear: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
“These are fundamental rights. They are also enabling rights. Without them, trade unions cannot organise, represent workers, or engage effectively in social dialogue,” Röpke said.
According to him, while collective bargaining is already helping organisations address the challenges posed by technological advancement and climate change, its full potential has yet to be realised.
“It brings different interests together, especially in polarised environments. It helps workers, enterprises, and governments manage transitions with foresight,” he added.
